Water for food in a changing world [contributions from the Rosenberg International Forum on Water Policy - (vol.) 2 ; papers commissioned for Forum VI which was held in Zaragoza, Spain in June 2008

There is not enough water globally for all the things humans need and want water to do for us. Water supply bubbles are bursting in China, the Middle East and India with potentially serious implications for the global economy and for political stability. Even the United States is depleting groundwater on average 25% faster than it is being replenished. Our thirst for water grows with our population, but the amount of fresh water available on Earth is fixed. If we assume "business as usual" by 2050 about 40% of the projected global population of 9.4 billion is expected to be facing water stress or scarcity. With increasing climate variability being predicted by global climate models, we are likely also to have more people without adequate water more of the time, even in water-rich regions. Irrigation productivity rose dramatically over the past 40 years as a result of the Green Revolution. However, even if we disregard the environmental impacts caused by that revolution, we are no nearer to achieving global food security than we were 40 years ago, as every time we come close to filling the food production gap population growth and ecosystem decline associated with water diversions to human purposes set us back. Our natural and agricultural ecosystems are trying to tell us something. This book pursues these overarching themes connecting to water and food production at global and regional scales. The collection offers a comprehensive discussion of all relevant issues, and offers a wide-ranging discussion with the aim of contributing to the global debate about water and food crises. Title......Page 4 Copyright......Page 5 Contents......Page 6 Figures and tables......Page 9 Contributors......Page 13 Preface......Page 17 Part I: Introduction......Page 20 1 Converging global food and water trade-offs......Page 22 Part II: Innovations in the agricultural response to the sustainability challenge......Page 30 2 Optimizing water productivity in food production......Page 32 3 Modern agriculture under stress: Lessons from the Murray-Darling Basin in Australia......Page 52 4 Integrated watershed management: Towards sustainable solutions in Africa......Page 69 5 Lessons for Spain: A critical assessment of the role of science and society......Page 92 Part III: Counting the drops and the mouths to feed: Food production and trade......Page 120 6 Back to basics on water as constraint for global food production: Opportunities and limitations......Page 122 7 Globalization of water resources through virtual water trade......Page 136 Part IV: Water for the environment......Page 152 8 Balancing water for people and nature......Page 154 9 Optimizing water for life......Page 190 Part V: Revitalized water governance......Page 216 10 Water science and policy in a changing world: Perceptions from a practitioner......Page 218 11 Promises under construction: The evolving paradigm for water governance and the case of Northern Mexico......Page 241 12 Beyond universal remedies for good water governance: A political and contextual approach......Page 260 13 Water policies in Spain: Balancing water for food and water for nature......Page 281 Part VI: Conclusions......Page 328 14 Can the world feed itself sustainably?......Page 330 Index......Page 350 There Is Not Enough Water Globally For All The Things Humans Need And Want Water To Do For Us. Water Supply Bubbles Are Bursting In China, The Middle East And India With Potentially Serious Implications For The Global Economy And For Political Stability. Even The United States Is Depleting Groundwater On Average 25% Faster Than It Is Being Replenished. Our Thirst For Water Grows With Our Population, But The Amount Of Fresh Water Available On Earth Is Fixed. If We Assume Business As Usual By 2050 About 40% Of The Projected Global Population Of 9.4 Billion Is Expected To Be Facing Water Stress Or Scarcity. With Increasing Climate Variability Being Predicted By Global Climate Models, We Are Likely Also To Have More People Without Adequate Water More Of The Time, Even In Water Rich Regions. Irrigation Productivity Rose Dramatically Over The Past 40 Years As A Result Of The Green Revolution. However, Even If We Disregard The Environmental Impacts Caused By That Revolution, We Are No Nearer To Achieving Global Food Security Than We Were 40 Years Ago, As Every Time We Come Close To Filling The Food Production Gap Population Growth And Ecosystem Decline Associated With Water Diversions To Human Purposes Set Us Back. Our Natural And Agricultural Ecosystems Are Trying To Tell Us Something. This Book Pursues These Overarching Themes Connecting To Water And Food Production At Global And Regional Scales. The Collection Offers A Comprehensive Discussion Of All Relevant Issues, And Offers A Wide-ranging Discussion With The Aim Of Contributing To The Global Debate About Water And Food Crises. Water For Food In A Changing World / Robert Sandford -- Optimising Water Productivity In Food Production / Elías Fereres -- Modern Agricultural Under Stress : Lessons From The Murray Darling In Australia / Wendy Craik And James Cleaver -- Integrated Watershed Management / Akissa Bahri ... [et Al.] -- Lessons From Spain : A Critical Of Assessment Of The Role Of Science And Society / Alberto Garrido And Ana Iglesias -- Integrating Agricultural Water Use With The Global Water Budget / Malin Falkenmarkt And Johan Rockström -- Globalisation Of Water Through Virtual Water Trade / Hong Yang -- Balancing Water For People And Nature / Uriel Safriel -- Optimising Water For Life / Daniel Loucks -- Water Science And Policy In A Changing World : Implications Of Non-stationary Hydrology, Ecolomics And Politics / John Briscoe -- Promises Under Construction : The Evolving Paradigm For Water Governance And The Case Of Northern Mexico / Margaret Wilder -- Beyond Universal Remedies For Good Water Governance : A Political And Contextual Approach / Helen Ingram -- Water Policies In Spain : Balancing Water For Food And Water For Nature / Consuelo Varela-ortega -- Can The World Feed Itself Sustainably? / Alberto Garrido, Helen Ingram And Robert Sandford. Edited By Alberto Garrido And Helen Ingram. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Our thirst for water grows with our population, but the amount of fresh water available on Earth is fixed. This book explores water and food production at global and regional scales. The collection offers a comprehensive discussion of all relevant issues