Water Well Journal
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/740475
agers, and decision makers to utilize the data, information, and tools that are available. This requires communicating with relevant communities and stakeholders through appropriate media, participation in conferences, building partnerships, and sponsorship of groundwater research. WWJ: The Earth Security Group released its "CEO Briefing: Global Depletion of Aquifers," where it states multinational corporations need to take a more active role in groundwater governance if they want to ensure their sustainable growth. How can companies build awareness about water efficiency and sustainability? Peter: The private sector is increasingly recognizing the criti- cal importance of water, including groundwater, with the 2016 World Economic Forum identifying it as one of the top two global risks. Private sector companies and organizations are increasingly engaging in processes to support the management of these resources, including joining broad partnerships within the water sector, recognizing the likely impacts at different scales, and working across sectors such as water, agriculture, energy, and the environment. It is especially important for companies to recognize water requirements along their entire value chain, especially for agriculture and energy, where the extent of their water foot- print is often significantly underestimated. WWJ: You began your new role as executive director of the Water for Food Institute at the University of Nebraska in September. How has the transition been and what do you hope to achieve? Peter: A long with a well-established team and network of partners, we aim to build on the established momentum, ex- pand our work, and increase the impact of research on sustain- ably managing water for food, as detailed in our strategic plan. It is a major advantage to have the depth of the univer- sity's broad expertise in water and agricultural research and extension, the support of an exceptional board of directors and advisory teams, and a network of partners in Nebraska, across the United States, and globally. WWJ: Our journal covers the irrigation segment of the groundwater industry with feature articles and a column by an industry expert throughout the year. What do you see as some of the major technological improvements happening in the field of agricultural water management? Are there other new agricul- tural technologies that need to be utilized by groundwater professionals to help conserve water resources? Peter: There is an exciting range of technologies being devel- oped and applied in improving agricultural water management at the field, system, and aquifer and basins scales. On the one hand, in-field sensors supported by remote sensing from dif- ferent sources (satellite, airborne, UAV) and computer model- ing provides information to reduce the volume of water that needs to be pumped, and allows for the development of zone irrigation prescriptions for variable rate irrigation on center pivot systems and drip irrigation systems. At the other end of the spectrum, the application of rela- tively proven technologies in new contexts, such as wetting front detectors, allow small-scale farmers in Ethiopia to reduce the amount of pumping required. Solutions to better managing water for food also come from other technological developments. For instance, acceler- ated plant breeding and phenotyping will allow for the rapid identification of plant traits and production of new hybrid crops that will resist salinity and other stresses, provide drought tolerance while still producing economically and without increasing demands on water. The Daugherty Water for Food Institute and other partners are collaborating with startup companies developing smart meter and sensor networks for agricultural water management, as well as other innovative water management strategies. More specifically, the major center pivot irrigation companies based in Nebraska are pioneering many of the technological advances that allow for the adoption of precision irrigation. WWJ: What is some key data that shows the signifi- cance of this water for food security issue? Peter: As with water security, food security is a top global concern. By 2050, the world must feed 9 billion people, and changing diets are expected to further increase the demand for more water-intensive products and reliable water supplies. By 2025, 1.8 billion people will experience absolute water scarcity, and two-thirds of the world will be living under water-stressed conditions, primarily in the developing world. Agriculture is responsible for 70 percent of all freshwater and groundwater withdrawals worldwide, and yet the de- mands for food and agricultural products will require more water for agriculture, especially if we do not improve agricul- tural water management. Irrigated agriculture accounts for 20 percent of the earth's cultivated land area but produces 40 percent of its food. (This data is from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, www.fao.org/fileadmin/templates/ wsfs/docs/expert_paper/How_to_Feed_the_World_ in_2050.pdf.) WWJ: What role is global warming playing in all of this? Peter: Increasing variability in climate, including more se- vere droughts and floods, combined with other drivers such as urbanization, is exacerbating the challenge of managing water for food, especially with the projected increases in demands and need for more reliability in supplies. This makes it even more important to provide timely and relevant information and data, practical solutions, and institutional and policy It is now estimated 44 percent of global food production is generated by groundwater, but 33 percent of this is already from non-renewable sources. McCORNICK from page 42 44 November 2016 WWJ waterwelljournal.com