The book “Water for Food” was published just in time for the World Water Week in August 2008. One of the issues dealt with in the book is that it should be possible to replace a considerable proportion of meat production by large areas for growing vegetables and energy crops. Such cultivation could also filter away contaminants and prevent erosion.
Formas presented the new book "Water for food" during World Water Week in Stockholm in August.
Stop wasting water
Rainwater can be utilised better, as shown in many places in the world, for example in India. In addition, in the poor parts of the world, food and thus, indirectly, water resources also, is wasted because there is a shortage of refrigeration plant and transport. In the richer parts of the world, we are throwing away about one quarter of all food.
By calculating water productivity, i.e. the quantity of crops obtained from different irrigation models, it is possible to use water more effectively.
The water budgets of countries and their indirect trade in water in the form of agricultural products can be calculated in terms of water footprints. Such water footprints are a measure of the total quantity of water that is required for agricultural products in different parts of the production chain, both water contained in the products and the water used in growing the crops in their country of origin.
Rice and corn
It is predicted that climate changes will bring about heavy downpours in parts of the world, resulting in increased erosion of agricultural land. Soil is also degraded by nutrient leakage and by contamination by salt and minerals, due to lack of drainage or the absence of water use planning.
New cultivation methods or genetically improved crops can prove to be of critical importance in coping with the drier climate that is expected in large parts of the world. Interesting examples are new varieties of rice and corn. Trials are also being made on cultivation techniques that use low volumes of water, specially developed for African and Asian conditions.
Formas presented the new book on its own stand during World Water Week in Stockholm in August.
Literature:
Water for Food is Formas' fourth book on water. The book costs SEK 100 incl. VAT and can be obtained via the Formas online bookshop or from Kundtjänst Formas, tel. +46 8-690 9522, fax +46 8-690 9550. Email: formas.ldi@liber.se. The three previous water books are Dams under Debate, 2006, Groundwater under Threat, 2005, and Water research – What's Next?, 2004.