Farming Ourselves Dry

Advancementsin agriculture over the last hundred years have radically changed farmingpractices, bringing an age-old, labour intensive activity into the 21stCentury. Today’s merger of science with agriculture continues to push theboundaries of what is possible, but has in the process raised some ethical conundrums,like the use of GMOs to augment the world’s food supply.

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Ethical andphilosophical matters can be debated endlessly, often times taking policymakers and thinkers further into the clouds, and away from the livedexperiences of people on the ground. Water use in agriculture has far-reachingimpacts, and it is worth considering how best to manage the world’s watersupply for today—and tomorrow.

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Just over 70percent of the world’s surface is covered by water, and of that, under 3percent is freshwater. Food production accounts for 70percent of freshwater withdrawals, making agriculture the largest consumerof freshwater in the world. Water waste, contamination, and irrigation issuesare viable problems that affect millions, if not billions, of people around theworld. Innovative ideas to address water use issues, including harnessing greenwater resources and wastewater management techniques, create promisingpossibilities about the future of water in agriculture.

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Freshwaterscarcity is a growing problem, particularly at a time when complications from climatechange, pollution, and over-abstraction are mounting. According to the WorldWildlife Fund (WWF), major food producing nations, such as the UnitedStates, China, India, and Spain have hit their ceiling, or are close to hittingtheir ceiling, on renewable water resource limits.

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This complexissue has several causes, including irrigation system leaks, inefficientmethods used in fields, and the farming of crops that are not appropriate tothe environment. Political and public awareness about the issue is low, andwhen this is compounded by misallocated subsidies and haphazard or ineffectualenvironmental legislation, water waste increases.

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A recent reportpublished by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and CulturalOrganization (UNESCO) notes that over 80 percent of the world’s wastewatermakes it back into the environment without any treatment. This leads to contaminateddrinking water, and jeopardizes marine wildlife while disrupting food chains. Wastewaterfrom agriculture is a major area of concern, as fertilizer overuse and surfacerunoff, both in crop and livestock production, create wastewater that isreleased into the environment. Pesticides, salts, sediments, and otherpollutants, all by-products of agriculture activities, further exacerbatewastewater.

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Researchershave been exploring ways to address water waste in agriculture by taking a moreholistic look at the problem. The last decade has seen a focus on green water,or rain water, and the impacts it can have on the environment and, consequently,food production. By focusing on both blue water (irrigation of fresh water) andgreen water, new strategies can be developed to better manage water use inagriculture, and elsewhere.

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Integratedagriculture-aquaculture manages crops, vegetables, livestock, trees, and fishtogether in a collective system. This can lead to stable production,efficiency, and sustainability. Best of all, waste as output can be re-purposedfrom one area, and turned into input for another. Ultimately, the idea isto understand wastewater not as a problem, but as a possible solution to the wateruse issues facing the world.

Fed’s sustainable approach

Efficientwater use is indispensable for humans to survive into the future. So, too, isdeveloping strategies that can help address problems in unique ways. The UNESCOreport is a step in the right direction, making many important points,including this one:

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“If adequatelytreated and safely applied, wastewater is a valuable source of both water andnutrients, contributing to food security and the improvement of livelihoods” –p.74

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The key pointhere is food security, and how innovative models can help alleviate difficulties.Fed, a Vancouver-based nutrition company, addresses food security by combining science and technology toimprove human health. Nutritious meals, created by experts, that satisfy daily requirements while also minimizing the negative environmentalimpacts of food production and consumption.

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We are currentlyworking hard to make Fed a reality, and are aiming to launch later in 2017. Sign up now for our mailing list toreceive updates and early access to our meals.