How water scarcity will shape the new century

2001 ◽  
Vol 43 (4) ◽  
pp. 17-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lester R. Brown
Keyword(s):  
Water Resources ◽  
Water Scarcity ◽  
Food Production ◽  
Protein Production ◽  
Water Productivity ◽  
Animal Protein ◽  
Scarce Resource

Water resources are increasingly being overexploited, such that current food production, which relies heavily on irrigation schemes, is unsustainable. Many steps, including improved irrigation techniques, more water-efficient crops and animal protein production, etc., will be needed to raise water productivity across the board. Water must in future be recognised as a scarce resource and not taken for granted.

scholarly journals Analysis of intra-country virtual water trade strategy to alleviate water scarcity in Iran

2010 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 2609-2649 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Faramarzi ◽  
H. Yang ◽  
J. Mousavi ◽  
R. Schulin ◽  
C. R. Binder ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Scarcity ◽  
Food Production ◽  
Water Productivity ◽  
National Level ◽  
Virtual Water ◽  
Mixed Integer ◽  
Baseline Scenario ◽  
Cropping Pattern ◽  
Virtual Water Trade ◽  
Cereal Production

Abstract. Increasing water scarcity has posed a major constraint to sustain food production in many parts of the world. To study the situation at the regional level, we took Iran as an example and analyzed how an intra-country "virtual water trade strategy" (VWTS) may help improve cereal production as well as alleviate the water scarcity problem. This strategy calls, in part, for the adjustment of the structure of cropping pattern (ASCP) and interregional food trade where crop yield and crop water productivity as well as local economic and social conditions are taken into account. We constructed a systematic framework to assess ASCP at the provincial level under various driving forces and constraints. A mixed-integer, multi-objective, linear optimization model was developed and solved by linear programming. Data from 1990–2004 were used to account for yearly fluctuations of water availability and food production. Five scenarios were designed aimed at maximizing the national cereal production while meeting certain levels of wheat self-sufficiency under various water and land constraints in individual provinces. The results show that under the baseline scenario, which assumes a continuation of the existing water use and food policy at the national level, some ASCP scenarios could produce more wheat with less water. Based on different scenarios in ASCP, we calculated that 31% to 100% of the total wheat shortage in the deficit provinces could be supplied by the wheat surplus provinces. As a result, wheat deficit provinces would receive 3.5 billion m3 to 5.5 billion m3 of virtual water by importing wheat from surplus provinces.

scholarly journals Global Water Availability and Requirements for Future Food Production

2011 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 885-899 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Gerten ◽  
J. Heinke ◽  
H. Hoff ◽  
H. Biemans ◽  
M. Fader ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Availability ◽  
Water Scarcity ◽  
Food Production ◽  
General Circulation ◽  
Population Change ◽  
Water Productivity ◽  
General Circulation Models ◽  
Water Requirements ◽  
Balanced Diet ◽  
Per Capita

Abstract This study compares, spatially explicitly and at global scale, per capita water availability and water requirements for food production presently (1971–2000) and in the future given climate and population change (2070–99). A vegetation and hydrology model Lund–Potsdam–Jena managed Land (LPJmL) was used to calculate green and blue water availability per capita, water requirements to produce a balanced diet representing a benchmark for hunger alleviation [3000 kilocalories per capita per day (1 kilocalorie = 4184 joules), here assumed to consist of 80% vegetal food and 20% animal products], and a new water scarcity indicator that relates the two at country scale. A country was considered water-scarce if its water availability fell below the water requirement for the specified diet, which is presently the case especially in North and East Africa and in southwestern Asia. Under climate (derived from 17 general circulation models) and population change (A2 and B1 emissions and population scenarios), water availability per person will most probably diminish in many regions. At the same time the calorie-specific water requirements tend to decrease, due mainly to the positive effect of rising atmospheric CO2 concentration on crop water productivity—which, however, is very uncertain to be fully realized in most regions. As a net effect of climate, CO2, and population change, water scarcity will become aggravated in many countries, and a number of additional countries are at risk of losing their present capacity to produce a balanced diet for their inhabitants.

scholarly journals Water Scarcity under Various Socio-economic Pathways and its Potential Effects on Food Production in the Yellow River Basin

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuanyuan Yin ◽  
Qiuhong Tang ◽  
Xingcai Liu ◽  
Xuejun Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Water Resources ◽  
Water Scarcity ◽  
Water Demand ◽  
Food Production ◽  
Yellow River ◽  
The Yellow River ◽  
Industrial Water ◽  
Water Demands ◽  
Socio Economic Development ◽  
Industrial Water Demand

Abstract. Increasing population and socio-economic development have put great pressure on water resources of the Yellow River (YR) basin. The anticipated climate and socio-economic changes may further increase water stress. Many studies have investigated the changes in renewable water resources under various climate change scenarios but few have considered the joint pressure from both climate change and socio-economic development. In this study, we assess water scarcity under various socio-economic pathways with an emphasis on the impact of water scarcity on food production. The water demands in the 21st century are estimated based on the newly developed Shared Socio-economic Pathways (SSPs) and the renewable water supply is obtained from the climate projections under the RCP 8.5 scenario. The assessment predicts that the renewable water resources and domestic water demand are projected to first increase and then decrease, while the industrial water demand is projected to rapidly increase in the basin during the 21st century. The water demands will put the middle and lower reaches in conditions of severe water scarcity beginning in the next a few decades (during 1990s–2040s). The industrial water demand is the main contributing factors to water scarcity. The irrigation water demand is another important contributing factor under SSP3. If more than 10 % of the renewable water resources are used to sustain ecosystems, a portion of irrigated land would have to be converted to rain-fed agriculture which would lead to a 9–38 % reduction in food production. This study highlights the links between water, food and ecosystems in a changing environment and suggests that trade-offs should be considered when developing regional adaptation strategies.

scholarly journals Water scarcity under various socio-economic pathways and its potential effects on food production in the Yellow River basin

2017 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 791-804 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuanyuan Yin ◽  
Qiuhong Tang ◽  
Xingcai Liu ◽  
Xuejun Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Economic Development ◽  
Water Resources ◽  
21St Century ◽  
Water Scarcity ◽  
Food Production ◽  
Yellow River ◽  
The Yellow River ◽  
Socio Economic Development ◽  
Water Withdrawals

Abstract. Increasing population and socio-economic development have put great pressure on water resources of the Yellow River (YR) basin. The anticipated climate and socio-economic changes may further increase water stress. Many studies have investigated the changes in renewable water resources under various climate change scenarios, but few have considered the joint pressure from both climate change and socio-economic development. In this study, we assess water scarcity under various socio-economic pathways with emphasis on the impact of water scarcity on food production. The water demands in the 21st century are estimated based on the newly developed shared socio-economic pathways (SSPs) and renewable water supply is estimated using the climate projections under the Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 8.5 scenario. The assessment predicts that the renewable water resources would decrease slightly then increase. The domestic and industrial water withdrawals are projected to increase in the next a few decades and then remain at the high level or decrease slightly during the 21st century. The increase in water withdrawals will put the middle and lower reaches in a condition of severe water scarcity beginning in the next a few decades. If 40 % of the renewable water resources were used to sustain ecosystems, a portion of irrigated land would have to be converted to rain-fed agriculture, which would lead to a 2–11 % reduction in food production. This study highlights the links between water, food and ecosystems in a changing environment and suggests that trade-offs should be considered when developing regional adaptation strategies.

scholarly journals Analysis of intra-country virtual water trade strategy to alleviate water scarcity in Iran

2010 ◽  
Vol 14 (8) ◽  
pp. 1417-1433 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Faramarzi ◽  
H. Yang ◽  
J. Mousavi ◽  
R. Schulin ◽  
C. R. Binder ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Scarcity ◽  
Food Production ◽  
Water Productivity ◽  
National Level ◽  
Virtual Water ◽  
Mixed Integer ◽  
Baseline Scenario ◽  
Cropping Pattern ◽  
Virtual Water Trade ◽  
Cereal Production

Abstract. Increasing water scarcity has posed a major constraint to sustain food production in many parts of the world. To study the situation at the regional level, we took Iran as an example and analyzed how an intra-country "virtual water trade strategy" (VWTS) may help improve cereal production as well as alleviate the water scarcity problem. This strategy calls, in part, for the adjustment of the structure of cropping pattern (ASCP) and interregional food trade where crop yield and crop water productivity as well as local economic and social conditions are taken into account. We constructed a systematic framework to assess ASCP at the provincial level under various driving forces and constraints. A mixed-integer, multi-objective, linear optimization model was developed and solved by linear programming. Data from 1990–2004 were used to account for yearly fluctuations of water availability and food production. Five scenarios were designed aimed at maximizing the national cereal production while meeting certain levels of wheat self-sufficiency under various water and land constraints in individual provinces. The results show that under the baseline scenario, which assumes a continuation of the existing water use and food policy at the national level, some ASCP scenarios could produce more wheat with less water. Based on different scenarios in ASCP, we calculated that 31% to 100% of the total wheat shortage in the deficit provinces could be supplied by the wheat surplus provinces. As a result, wheat deficit provinces would receive 3.5 billion m3 to 5.5 billion m3 of virtual water by importing wheat from surplus provinces.

Livestock water productivity: implications for sub-Saharan Africa

2009 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 187 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Peden ◽  
G. Taddesse ◽  
A. Haileslassie
Keyword(s):  
Water Management ◽  
Developing Countries ◽  
Water Resources ◽  
Food Production ◽  
Water Productivity ◽  
Livestock Production ◽  
Animal Production ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Agricultural Water ◽  
Sub Saharan

Water is essential for agriculture including livestock. Given increasing global concern that access to agricultural water will constrain food production and that livestock production uses and degrades too much water, there is compelling need for better understanding of the nature of livestock–water interactions. Inappropriate animal management along with poor cropping practices often contributes to widespread and severe depletion, degradation and contamination of water. In developed countries, diverse environmental organisations increasingly voice concerns that animal production is a major cause of land and water degradation. Thus, they call for reduced animal production. Such views generally fail to consider their context, applicability and implications for developing countries. Two global research programs, the CGIAR ‘Comprehensive Assessment of Water Management and Agriculture’ and ‘Challenge Program on Water and Food’ have undertaken studies of the development, management and conservation of agricultural water in developing countries. Drawing on these programs, this paper describes a framework to systematically identify key livestock–water interactions and suggests strategies for improving livestock and water management especially in the mixed crop–livestock production systems of sub-Saharan Africa. In contrast to developed country experience, this research suggests that currently livestock water productivity compares favourably with crop water productivity in Africa. Yet, great opportunities remain to further reduce domestic animals’ use of water in the continent. Integrating livestock and water planning, development and management has the potential to help reduce poverty, increase food production and reduce pressure on the environment including scarce water resources. Four strategies involving technology, policy and institutional interventions can help achieve this. They are choosing feeds that require relatively little water, conserving water resources through better animal and land management, applying well known tools from the animal sciences to increase animal production, and strategic temporal and spatial provisioning of drinking water. Achieving integrated livestock–water development will require new ways of thinking about, and managing, water by water- and animal-science professionals.

Ensuring access to water in an emergency context: Towards an overexploitation and contamination of water resources?

2021 ◽  
pp. 096466392110316
Author(s):  
Chloé Nicolas-Artero
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Water Resources ◽  
Qualitative Methods ◽  
Water Scarcity ◽  
Water Rights ◽  
Environmental Crisis ◽  
Supply Network ◽  
Mining Pollution ◽  
Access To Water

This article shows how geo-legal devices created to deal with environmental crisis situations make access to drinking water precarious and contribute to the overexploitation and contamination of water resources. It relies on qualitative methods (interviews, observations, archive work) to identify and analyse two geo-legal devices applied in the case study of the Elqui Valley in Chile. The first device, generated by the Declaration of Water Scarcity, allows private sanitation companies to concentrate water rights and extend their supply network, thus producing an overexploitation of water resources. In the context of mining pollution, the second device is structured around the implementation of the Rural Drinking Water Programme and the distribution of water by tankers, which has made access to drinking water more precarious for the population and does nothing to prevent pollution.

ANIMAL PROTEIN PRODUCTION

1979 ◽  
Vol 55 (9) ◽  
pp. 447-447 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. F. DOWLINC
Keyword(s):  
Protein Production ◽  
Animal Protein

scholarly journals A produção de vôngole e seu potencial para o desenvolvimento de novos produtos a base de pescado

2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 81
Author(s):  
Mayla Monique dos Santos Leite ◽  
Gesilene Mendonça Oliveira
Keyword(s):  
Human Population ◽  
Protein Production ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Animal Protein ◽  
Product Diversification ◽  
Center Line ◽  
Production Chain ◽  
Biological Value ◽  
The World ◽  
Fishing Resources

<p>A dificuldade em suprir a demanda de proteína de origem animal de excelente valor biológico para a população humana é uma das maiores preocupações do nosso século. De acordo com a FAO, a atividade pesqueira (pesca extrativa e aquicultura), será uma das principais atividades responsáveis pela segurança alimentar do planeta, com previsões de produção de proteína de origem animal para a próxima década maior do que o setor de animais de abate (carnes bovinas, suínas e aves). A utilização de recursos pesqueiros subutilizados com potencial para explotação poderá assegurar a manutenção da oferta primária de matéria prima no mercado interno local e/ou regional, e inibir oscilação de preços, como a prática da mariscagem. Neste contexto, o presente artigo de revisão tem por objetivo evidenciar o potencial da <em>Anomalocardia brasiliana</em> para explotação e processamento contribuindo para o fortalecimento desta cadeia produtiva no segmento artesanal e diversificação de produtos no mercado brasileiro.</p><p align="center"><strong><em>The production of clams and its potential for development of new products based on fish</em></strong></p><p> </p><p><strong>Abstract:</strong> The difficulty in supplying the animal protein demand of great biological value for the human population is a major concern of our century. According to the FAO, the fishery (extractive fishing and aquaculture), will be one of the main activities responsible for food safety in the world, with animal protein production forecasts for the next decade longer than the slaughter of animals sector (beef, pork and poultry). The use of fishing resources with underutilized potential for exploitation can ensure the maintenance of primary supply of raw materials on-site domestic and / or regional, and inhibit movement of prices, as the practice of shellfish. In this context, the present review aims to highlight the potential of <em>Anomalocardia brasiliana</em> to exploitation and processing contributing to the strengthening of this production chain in the craft segment and product diversification in the Brazilian market.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-align: center; line-height: normal;" align="center"> </p>

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