A comprehensive water balance of Tunisia: blue water, green water and virtual water

Chahed, Jamel; Hamdane, Abdelkader; Besbes, Mustapha

doi:10.1080/02508060802543105

Cited by 23 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…Although irrigated land accounts to only 7% of the total cultivated land in Tunisia (Chahed et al, 2008), it contributes to more than 35% of the total production of the agricultural sector and accounts for more than 80% of the total water withdrawal in the country (Ministry of Environment, 2009).…”

Section: Economic Water and Land Productivity At National Levelmentioning

confidence: 99%

The water footprint of Tunisia from an economic perspective

Chouchane

Hoekstra

Krol

et al. 2015

Ecological Indicators

106

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Section: Economic Water and Land Productivity At National Levelmentioning

confidence: 99%

The water footprint of Tunisia from an economic perspective

Chouchane

Hoekstra

Krol

et al. 2015

Ecological Indicators

106

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“…Furthermore, the concept of 'water security' versus 'water stress' derives from the same hydraulic approach and considers only the potential of water withdrawal. This approach is not complete, in particular where, as in Tunisia, the water resources involved in rainfed agriculture production are much more important than water used in irrigated agriculture (Chahed, Hamdane, & Besbes, 2008). Mekonnen and Hoekstra (2011) present a global analysis of the water footprint related to agricultural production at the worldwide scale.…”

Section: Water Resources Agriculture and Green Watermentioning

confidence: 99%

Virtual-water content of agricultural production and food trade balance of Tunisia

Chahed

Besbes

Hamdane³

2015

International Journal of Water Resources Development

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This article is devoted to the assessment of Tunisian agricultural production and food trade balance water-equivalent. A linear regression model relating annual rainfall to crop yields is developed to estimate the agricultural production water-equivalent. Its implementation is based on national data for crop and animal production, leading to food demand water-equivalent quantification. Results highlight the relationship between agricultural and water policies and provide a picture of food security in the country in relation to local agricultural production, and to virtual water fluxes related to foodstuffs trade balance.

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“…In this case, the goods are agricultural products, but it could be any kind of product. To truly understand the role of Virtual Water in the water balance of a country, take one example, Tunisia, a country in the arid zone where the water balance has been thoroughly studied for a long time (Chahed et al 2008;Besbes et al 2009Besbes et al , 2014. The presentation below is taken from these authors.…”

Section: Virtual Water Example Of Tunisiamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In average rainfall years, half of the water required to meet Tunisian food requirements is provided by rain-fed agriculture (Green water), one-sixth by irrigated agriculture (Blue water), and almost one-third by Virtual Water in the form of imported food. Tunisia imports the water equivalent of 5.2 km 3 /y, essentially in the form of cereals, and exports agricultural products such as citrus fruit, dates, olive oil, and early-season vegetables, equivalent to 1.5 km 3 /y for an average annual net deficit of 3.7 km 3 /y (Chahed et al 2008). In 2025, with about 12 million inhabitants, and probably less water available because of climate change, Virtual Water is likely to increase to 50% of the food demand.…”

Section: Virtual Water Example Of Tunisiamentioning

confidence: 99%

Water and Food in the Twenty-First Century

Marsily

Río

2015

Surv Geophys

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In 2000, the World population was 6.2 billion people; it reached 7 billion in 2012, and is expected to reach 9.5 billion (± 0.4) in 2050, 11 billion (± 1.5) in 2100, according to the 2012 UN projections (Gerland et al. 2014). The trend after 2100 is still one of global demographic growth, but after 2060, Africa is the only continent where the population would still increase. The amount of water consumed annually to produce the food necessary to meet the needs of the populations varies greatly between countries, from about 600 to 2500 m 3 /y per capita (Zimmer 2013), depending on their wealth, their food habits, and the percentage of food waste they generate (on average, 30% of the food produced is wasted). In 2000, the total food production was on the order of 3300 million tons (in cereal equivalents). In 2014, it is estimated that about 0.8 billion inhabitants of the planet suffer from hunger (FAO 2014) and do not get the nutrition they need to be in good health or, in the case of children, to grow properly (both physically and intellectually). This food deficit was on the order of 40 million tons of cereal equivalents in 2014. The number of inhabitants with a food deficit was about 0.85 billion before the 2008 crisis and was decreasing annually, but it increased abruptly after 2008 up to 1 billion inhabitants, and is slowly decreasing now. Assuming a World average water consumption for food of 1300 m 3 /y per capita in 2000, 1,400 m 3 /y in 2050 and 1500 m 3 /y in 2100, a volume of water of around 8200 km 3 /y was needed in 2000, 13000 km 3 /y will be needed in 2050 and 16500 km 3 /y in 2100 (Marsily 2009). Can bioenergy be added to food production? Will that much water be available on earth, and where will it come from? Is climate change going to modify the answers to these questions? Can severe droughts occur? Can there be conflicts related to a food deficit? Some preliminary answers and scenarios for food production will be given in this paper from a hydrologist viewpoint.

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A comprehensive water balance of Tunisia: blue water, green water and virtual water

Cited by 23 publications

References 5 publications

The water footprint of Tunisia from an economic perspective

The water footprint of Tunisia from an economic perspective

Virtual-water content of agricultural production and food trade balance of Tunisia

Water and Food in the Twenty-First Century

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