About the Summit
The Upper Mississippi River Watershed stands at a crossroads. Agricultural runoff, public health risks, and recurrent flooding are converging into one of the most pressing environmental and economic challenges of our time. Addressing these issues requires a new model of collaboration between agriculture, conservation, public health, and private sector leaders. Watershed26 is a summit designed to drive change and chart our shared path forward.
Watershed26 Shared Action Plan
The Shared Action Plan is a strategic framework designed to accelerate conservation agriculture adoption, improve watershed health, strengthen rural economies, and align public-private investment across the Upper Mississippi River Watershed. It was developed based on the insight and expertise of the Athene Watershed26 committee members. The Shared Action Plan, while a collaborative document, is not explicitly endorsed by individual committee members nor the organizations they represent.
Summit Details
Watershed26 was hosted by the Great Outdoors Foundation and its partners at the Iowa Events Center on Tuesday, June 30 and Wednesday, July 1, 2026.
Location
Iowa Events Center
730 3rd Street
Des Moines, IA 50309
Agenda
Attendees engaged with dynamic, cross-sector attendees in large group and breakout sessions following content tracks for Emerging Voices, Finance Solutions, Dynamic Partnerships, Science & Data, and Stacked Benefits. View the complete 2026 conference agenda here.
| Time | Tuesday, June 30 | Wednesday, July 1 |
|---|---|---|
| 8:00 a.m. | Registration & Exhibits | Exhibits |
| 9:00 a.m. | Opening Session & Keynote | Main Session & Keynote |
| 10:15 a.m. | Break | Break |
| 10:30 a.m. | Breakout Session | Breakout Session |
| 11:30 a.m. | Lunch | Awards Lunch |
| 1:00 p.m. | Panel | Breakout Session |
| 2:00 p.m. | Breakout Sessions & Site Visits | |
| 2:15 p.m. | Closing Session & Keynote | |
| 3:00 p.m. | Breakout Sessions & Site Visits | |
| 4:00 p.m. | Break | Conference Ends |
| 4:30 p.m. | Cocktail Hour & Reception |
Convergence: The Conservation Ag Accelerator
Convergence is a premier platform designed to accelerate the next generation of conservation agriculture solutions, bringing together innovators, farmers, investors, and industry leaders at Athene Watershed26 to scale what works for soil and water.
At its core, Convergence is built around a central challenge: How might we address soil and water health while supporting the conservation agriculture sector?
The pitch competition showcases high-potential companies and organizations developing products, services, and technologies that improve conservation outcomes on agricultural land, ranging from soil health and water quality protection to nutrient reduction, carbon sequestration, and climate resilience.
Top three finalists were selected to pitch their product in front of a live audience at Athene Watershed26 on July 1, 2026.
AWARD RECIPIENTS
First Place – Upside Robotics
Second Place – SoilSerdem
Third Place – N-Sense
Questions?
Questions about Watershed26? Contact us at marketing@greatoutdoorsfoundation.org.
