The problems of sustainable water use in the Mediterranean and research requirements for agriculture

Abstract

This study addresses the sustainable use of water resources in the Mediterranean basin, particularly in the Southern and Eastern parts of the region, and the many problems generated by water scarcity and misuse. Water economy in the region is beset by two specific problems: high irrigation needs and changes in consumer demands (especially after population shifts from rural to urban areas and because of increasing tourism and industrialisation). The challenges presented by the water crisis are even greater because of growing populations and estimated future climatic changes in the region. The integrated management of limited water resources in the Southern and Eastern parts of the Mediterranean involves several areas of research. Those most directly related with agriculture concern improving water (and nutrient) use in agriculture through the management and breeding of irrigated and rain-fed crops. However, these fields of research address only one face of a multi-factorial equation that affects water sustainability in the region. Thus, other research fields include the design of comprehensive water policies and integrated planning, and technologies for advanced water treatment and re-use. Moreover, local problems and socio-economic aspects must be considered when addressing research issues.

Response of Table Grape to Irrigation Water in the Aconcagua Valley, Chile

“…The availability of water for agriculture will be scarce in the future, due to increased competition for water with other sectors of the economy, and climatic change may lead to more recurrent drought situations [4,5]. In the area of table grape production in Chile (30° to 36° South latitude), there is evidence that precipitation has decreased in the last century; rainfall is predicted to decline 25%-35% by 2040-2070, and average temperature to increase by 2-4 °C [6,7] as a consequence of climate change.…”

Assessing the sustainability of wheat-based cropping systems using simulation modelling: sustainability = 42?

“…Constraints to sustainability related to, for example, resources' endowment, population growth and political change (e.g. Agnew 1995;Rodríguez 1995;Chaherli et al 1999;Araus 2004;Bank and Becker 2004;Leenders and Heydemann 2012;Seale 2013) are outside of the system being modelled but impact on sustainability at the farm/field scale in profound ways that are often surprising and unpredictable. For example, the disruption of the largely statecontrolled economy (Hopfinger and Boeckler 1996;Bank and Becker 2004;Huff 2004) in consort with the current political crisis in Syria (which was unforeseeable just a few years ago) means that previously highly subsidised diesel prices (Appendix B; Table 3) are now up to seven-fold higher compared to 2008 (Atiya 2008).…”

“…To reduce climatic risks and boost production, the expansion of irrigation agriculture has been a key strategy (Rodríguez 1995;Rijsberman and Mohammed 2003;Araus 2004). With over 80 % of water resources being used in agriculture, this strategy has led to rapidly diminishing groundwater resources across the region (Araus 2004; Comprehensive Assessment of Water Management in Agriculture 2007).…”

“…To reduce climatic risks and boost production, the expansion of irrigation agriculture has been a key strategy (Rodríguez 1995;Rijsberman and Mohammed 2003;Araus 2004). With over 80 % of water resources being used in agriculture, this strategy has led to rapidly diminishing groundwater resources across the region (Araus 2004; Comprehensive Assessment of Water Management in Agriculture 2007). Soil fertility losses due to erosion, soil salinisation, declining soil organic matter and nutrient mining (Pala et al 1999;Lal 2002) have tightened the dilemma of increasing production in an agroecological region where land and water resources are inherently scarce (Agnew 1995).…”

Sustainable Water Management in Urban, Agricultural, and Natural Systems

“…• Sub-Saharan Africa [20] • India [21] • N Africa [22] • Algeria [25]; Palestine [26] • Greece [27] • Jordan [28] • Mid East [29]; World [30] • Mexico [31]; World [32] Agriculture…”