Water Availability: The Sleeping Giant
Water is something we take for granted as being abundant, free and available
when we need it. And yet, it is being widely touted by many as the reason for
which wars of the future will be fought.
That's something that is hard for many of us to fathom - after all, our
country is known around the world for its abundance of water. In fact, we've
always had so much water that most of us rarely give it a second thought. But
it's unlikely to stay that way - and we need solutions in order to feed a
growing global population.
Rapidly growing cities, bulk water removal and a changing climate are
straining our natural water resources, making all of us vulnerable to water
shortages, especially in years with little rainfall. To farmers and others who
depend on water, it's an undervalued commodity and the agri-food sector should
start focusing on the potential water problems that lie ahead.
Water availability helped define settlement patterns across North America.
With technological advances came the ability to irrigate, turning formerly dry
regions into productive agricultural land. When droughts strike, their impacts
on food and farming are direct and expensive. For example, Environment Canada's
stats show that the drought of 2001-02 that hit British Columbia, the Prairies,
Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia, cost the country approximately $5 billion.
In areas like the Southwestern United States, water access is often
restricted and water rights are a contentious issue. Even in provinces like
Ontario, where water is abundant, the provincial government began regulating
large users of water in 2007.
The solution, says Rob Hannam, President of Synthesis Agri-Food Network, is
two-fold, one of resource management planning combined with new green
technologies.
"We need a far-reaching water strategy to address issues like water-taking
and water availability," says Hannam. "In times of shortage, who will continue to
have access to water? Will it be municipalities to keep households going? Will
it be industry who sustains jobs? Or will it be farmers who are growing food?"
Any successful water management plan will have to strike a careful balance
between social, environmental and economic requirements. And the agri-food
sector will need to be part of that planning to ensure its needs can be met. This
means becoming engaged and aware of the issue now instead of waiting until it
becomes a more serious problem.
Technology can also help in addressing water scarcity issues. This could
include developing new water-efficient livestock feeding systems, sensor-monitored
drip irrigation, or developing crops that can flourish even in extreme weather conditions.
"Limited water availability will mean changes to what we produce and how we
produce it," says Hannam. "But it can also lead us to new opportunities for the
agri-food sector."
Insights - so what
does this mean for the agri-food industry?
Be proactive and get involved - Educate yourself on what is going
on in your area or region with respect to water and become an active
participant in the discussion. Learn from areas, like California, that are
facing these issues now.
Agriculture is part of the solution -
Although a limited water supply may mean changes to the kind of food we produce and even the way we
produce it, it could also result in new
opportunities, whether those are new, drought hardy crops, more efficient water
use, high tech water recycling technologies, or improved wastewater management
products and services.
Recognize the value
of water - Water is often perceived as being free
as it is plentiful and generally readily available. However, future success in
the agri-food sector will depend on access to water and if this access requires
a financial investment, it will have significant economic impact on the sector,
its development and its output.
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