WATER SUPPLY
WATER QUALITY
WATER MANAGEMENT
WATER and FOOD PRODUCTION
- Challenges for the Future -
Brent Paterson, P. Ag.Executive Director
Irrigation and Farm Water DivisionAlberta Agriculture and Rural
Development
Presentation to the Canadian Water SummitJune 28, 2012
Calgary, Alberta
Future World Food Requirements
World food requirements are expected to double in
the next 40 years.
World Population Growth
Future World Food Requirements
Per Capita Food Consumption
Shift Towards More Animal Protein
The long-term ability to feed the world’s growing population will increasingly depend on:
An ever-shrinking land base; and
Increased competition for limited water supplies.
World Food Production
Food and Politics Sharp increases in food prices due to
world shortages. July to September, 2010 wheat prices rose
by 60-80%.
The “Arab Spring” uprisings were linked to discontent over food prices.
Food demand is expected to increase dramatically.
700
900
800
1000
1100
90-9279-81 00-0295-97 05-0769-71 08 09 10
Years
Peop
le
(million
s)
Undernourished People in the World
FAO – World Food and Agriculture in Review 2010
Asia and PacificSub-Saharan AfricaLatin America and Car-ibbeanNear East and North AfricaDeveloped Regions
Undernourished People in 2010 (millions)
578
239
5337 19
Total: 925 million
Food Production
About 60% of the world’s food is produced on rainfed agricultural lands.
Significant production increases on rainfed land is not expected.
Irrigated Food ProductionIrrigation makes up only 17% of the world’s
agriculture land base.
However, it produces about 40% of the world’s food.
Up to 80% of future food requirements will need
to be met by irrigation.
Irrigation AdvantagesSignificantly increased production
compared to rainfed agriculture.
More reliable production – less risk of crop failure.
Increased diversification and value-added processing.
Future of Irrigation in Developing Countries
California
Pakistan
Increasing Productivity
Wheat Yield = 6 t/haWater Productivity = 1.3 kg/m3 Wheat Yield = 2 t/ha
Water Productivity = 0.5 kg/m3
Molden et al: Dialogue Working Paper 1, 2001
If developing countries improve their irrigation efficiency and crop yields,
irrigation expansion would not be required.
Increased international support is required for the development and management of water in developing countries.
Sub-Saharan Africa has considerable potential to develop water storage and irrigation systems that will significantly increase food production.
Projected Water Scarcity in 2025
Physical water scarcity
Economic water scarcity
Little or no water scarcity
Seckler et al, 2002
Many countries will be forced to abandon their policy of food self-sufficiency because of water shortages.
Alberta is positioned to play a major role in helping meet
future world food needs.
Alberta’s Potential
Large agricultural land base; 20 million ha.
Relatively small population; 3.5 million
Strong dryland agriculture; and
World-class irrigation system.
Agricultural Land
Irrigation
Current Irrigationin Alberta
Irrigation Districts• 560,000 ha
Private Irrigation• 120,000 ha
Increasing Alberta’s Irrigation Productivity
Primary Production
Value-Added Processing
Increasing the Productivity of Irrigation Water
1950 19701960 20151980 1990 2000 2010
50
75
100
125
150
175
200
125
5
15
10
25
20
30
35
40
Barl
ey Y
ield
(to
nn
es/h
a)
Irrigatio
n W
ate
r (millim
ete
rs)
Irrigation Water
Crop Yield
900 mm
380 mm
2.5 t/ha
6.5 t/ha
11 t/ha
Increase Food Processing Industries
Canola
Sugar Beets
Meat
Potatoes
Water Use Efficiency
Irrigation Conveyance Systems
Open Channels
Buried Pipelines
Conveyance Works>8000 km• 54% Open channel• 46% Buried pipeline
On-Farm Irrigation Efficiency
1965 34% 1980 58% 1990 60% 1995 65% 2010 74% Future 90+
%
Woods – 2010; Harms – 2012 (ARD)
World average is about 43%
Climate Change The agricultural industry has always
adapted to changing climatic conditions on the prairies.
However, accelerated changes in our climate will require faster adaptation than ever before.
We are working with the agricultural industry to assess adaptation strategies.
Water Quality
Finding The Balance
Environment Economic
Society
Calgary
Lethbridge
Medicine Hat
Primary source sites
Secondary source sites
Return flow sites
Irrigation District Water Quality
• 2006-2007• 2011-2015
86 SitesSampled 4 times/year
Nutrients Metals Ions Ammonia Aluminum (Al) pH Nitrate-Nitrogen Antimony (Sb) Alkalinity Nitrite-Nitrogen Arsenic (As) Calcium, Dissolved Total (Kjeldahl) Nitrogen Barium (Ba) Magnesium, Dissolved Dissolved Phosphorus Beryllium (Be) Sodium, Dissolved Total Phosphorus Boron (B) Potassium, Dissolved Cadmium (Cd) Sodium Adsorption Ratio Biological Chromium (Cr) Hardness (as CaCO3) Total coliforms Cobalt (Co) Alkalinity, Total (as CaCO3) Fecal coliforms Copper (Cu) Hydroxide E.coli Iron (Fe) Carbonate Chlorophyll-A Lead (Pb) Bicarbonate Lithium (Li) Chloride Physical Manganese (Mn) Sulphate Total Suspended Solids Mercury (Hg) Ion Balance Conductivity Molybdenum (Mo) Temperature Nickel (Ni) Selenium (Se) Silver (Ag) Strontium (Sr) Tellurium (Te) Thallium (Tl) Titanium (Ti) Uranium (U) Vanadium (V) Zinc (Zn)
Analyses – 150 parameters
Herbicide Insecticide Fungicide2,4-D DICLOFOP-METHYL a-BCH ISOFENPHOS BENALAXYL
2,4-DB DIMETHACHLOR ALDRIN LINDANE BUPRIRIMATE
ALACHLOR DIPHENAMID alpha-ENDOSULFAN METHOXYCHLOR CHLORONEB
ALLIDOCHLOR EPTC b-BHC MIREX CHLOZOLINATE
ATRAZINE ETHALFLURALIN BIFENTHRIN o,p-DDE ETRIDIAZOLE
BENFLURALIN ETHOFUMESATE BROMOPHOS-ETHYL o,p-DDT PROCYMIDONE
BENZOYLPROP-ETHYL FENOXAPROP CHLORMEPHOS OXYCHLORDANE QUINTOZENE
BROMACIL FLAMPROP-ISOPROPYL CHLORPYRIFOS p,p-DDT
BROMOXYNIL FLAMPROP-METHYLCHLORPYRIFOS-METHYL PHORATE Acaricide
BUTACHLOR IMAZETHAPYR cis-CHLORDANE PIRIMICARB BROMOPROPYLATE
BUTRALIN MCPA cis-PERMETHRIN PIRIMPHOS-ETHYL TETRADIFON
BUTYLATE MECOPROP d-HCH PIRIMPHOS-METHYL TETRASUL
CHLORTHAL-DIMETHYL METOLACHLOR DIAZINON pp DDD (TDE)
CHLORTHIAMID op-DDD DICHLORVOS pp-DDE BactericideCLOMAZONE PICLORAM DIELDRIN SULFOTEP NITRAPYRIN
CLOPYRALID PROMETON DIMETHOATE SULPROPHOS
CYCLOATE PROPHAM DIOXATHION t-CHLORDANE NematicideDESMETRYNE PROPYZAMIDE ENDRIN TERBUFOS DICHLOFENTHION
DICAMBA QUINCLORAC ETHIONtrans-HEPTACHLOR-EPOXIDE
DICHLOBENIL SIMAZINE ETRIMFOS trans-PERMETHRIN Growth RegDICHLORPROP TERBACIL FENCHLOROPHOS FLUMETRALIN
TERBUTRYNE FENTHION
TRIALLATE FONOFOS
TRIFLURALIN HEPTACHLOR
Analyses – 150 parameters