Developing Solutions to Critical Water Challenges in the U.S.
There is no doubt that water–both its management and wise use–is now and will continue to be a critical factor in determining the future of agricultural productivity in the U.S. After all, no present food crop can be produced without the amount of water that is needed and used for its [hopefully optimum] production. There is no doubt that food security is important for the world’s population, but first there must be water security to ensure that the production of food needed to ensure that food security can be produced.
An article titled “A vision for integrated, collaborative solutions to critical water and food challenges” by Elias et al. appears in the Journal of Soil and Water Conservation [May/June 2023, Vol. 78, p. 63A-68A], and presents a discussion about how current and future research can be applied to develop solutions to the challenges of providing a continuing supply of the water that is necessary for sustainable crop/food production. Pertinent points from that article follow.
• Sustainability of a water supply for all can only be realized by balancing the needs of agriculture, society, and ecosystems.
• The Vision described in this article emphasizes transdisciplinary approaches to water sustainability that will enhance the resiliency of agricultural systems to climate change. The final Vision described in this article represents an understanding of the role of water in agricultural production, the importance of food and water security, and water’s connection with other societal needs.
• Fresh water supplies are faced with increasing global pressure from both climate change and a growing world population. These pressures arise from water supply shortages, flood risk, and quality of current water supplies.
• Increased irrigated agriculture to mitigate the effects of drought in the U.S. is diminishing aquifer supplies.
• Excess water at the wrong time from natural events limits crop yields, and delivers contaminants to water bodies that are used for both agricultural and societal water needs.
• The agenda proposed in this article calls for assessment tools that are created through partnerships and collaboration among disciplines that are working in water management areas.
• The authors identified three critical components that support the Vision. They are: 1) Partnership and Collaboration, to include research that requires collaboration that is grounded in shared support, effective communication, and shared leadership among all parties, including industry; 2) Research Approach, to include the development and use of multiple new technologies to assess agroecosystem performance that is related to crop water use efficiency and adaptation to a changing climate; and 3) Data Sharing, to include managing–e.g. data automation and analysis–and sharing data related to use of assessment tools over a range of environments.
In summary, the authors state that “Our Vision relies on partnership and collaboration in a user-driven, decision-focused framework. We believe that, collectively, we can mobilize scientific expertise along with emerging technologies co-developed with partners to provide enough water for thriving agroecosystems while minimizing detrimental impacts of agriculture on water resources and aquatic ecosystems.” They further state that “The full impact of research often occurs long after peer-reviewed publication when knowledge is integrated into practice, as supported by the USDA Climate Hub Network.” The Southeast Climate Hub can be accessed here.
All authors of the above-linked publication are members of the USDA-ARS scientific community. However, each of the authors conducts research pertinent to the state or region they are located in. Thus, there is ample opportunity for collaboration among these ARS scientists and the scientists and specialists employed by institutions in the state or region of their location. This requires that ARS and state/regional research managers must work together to pool resources and scientific expertise needed to determine and conduct the research that will address the challenges of water security for agriculture that is necessary for crop/food production across the entire U.S.
Click here for the Soybean Irrigation Guide from MSPB and here to access an MSPB White Paper titled “Soybean Water Relations and Irrigation”. The latter link will also allow access to detailed information about the myriad water conservation tools that can used with irrigation that are referenced in the Guide and the White Paper.
Composed by Larry G. Heatherly, July 2023, larryh91746@gmail.com