Water Scarcity and Future Challenges for Food Production

Mancosu, Noemi; Snyder, R. L.; Kyriakakis, Gavriil; Spano, Donatella

Water Scarcity and Future Challenges for Food Production

2015

Mancosu, Noemi | Snyder, R. L. (Richard L.) | Kyriakakis, Gavriil | Spano, Donatella

Present water shortage is one of the primary world issues, and according to climate change projections, it will be more critical in the future. Since water availability and accessibility are the most significant constraining factors for crop production, addressing this issue is indispensable for areas affected by water scarcity. Current and future issues related to “water scarcity” are reviewed in this paper so as to highlight the necessity of a more sustainable approach to water resource management. As a consequence of increasing water scarcity and drought, resulting from climate change, considerable water use for irrigation is expected to occur in the context of tough competition between agribusiness and other sectors of the economy. In addition, the estimated increment of the global population growth rate points out the inevitable increase of food demand in the future, with an immediate impact on farming water use. Since a noteworthy relationship exists between the water possessions of a country and the capacity for food production, assessing the irrigation needs is indispensable for water resource planning in order to meet food needs and avoid excessive water consumption.

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