Virtual Water Trade as a Solution for Water Scarcity in Egypt

Abstract. Increasing water scarcity has posed a major constraint to sustain food production in many parts of the world. To study the situation at the regional level, we took Iran as an example and analyzed how an intra-country "virtual water trade strategy" (VWTS) may help improve cereal production as well as alleviate the water scarcity problem. This strategy calls, in part, for the adjustment of the structure of cropping pattern (ASCP) and interregional food trade where crop yield and crop water productivity as well as local economic and social conditions are taken into account. We constructed a systematic framework to assess ASCP at the provincial level under various driving forces and constraints. A mixed-integer, multi-objective, linear optimization model was developed and solved by linear programming. Data from 1990–2004 were used to account for yearly fluctuations of water availability and food production. Five scenarios were designed aimed at maximizing the national cereal production while meeting certain levels of wheat self-sufficiency under various water and land constraints in individual provinces. The results show that under the baseline scenario, which assumes a continuation of the existing water use and food policy at the national level, some ASCP scenarios could produce more wheat with less water. Based on different scenarios in ASCP, we calculated that 31% to 100% of the total wheat shortage in the deficit provinces could be supplied by the wheat surplus provinces. As a result, wheat deficit provinces would receive 3.5 billion m3 to 5.5 billion m3 of virtual water by importing wheat from surplus provinces.

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Water Scarcity and Virtual Water Trade in the Mediterranean

SSRN Electronic Journal ◽

10.2139/ssrn.1683290 ◽

2010 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Roberto Roson ◽

Martina Sartori

Keyword(s):

Water Scarcity ◽

Virtual Water ◽

Virtual Water Trade ◽

The Mediterranean

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A multi-region input-output model for optimizing virtual water trade flows in agricultural crop production

Management of Environmental Quality An International Journal ◽

10.1108/meq-01-2017-0012 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 29 (1) ◽

pp. 63-75 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Kathleen B. Aviso ◽

Sed Anderson K. Holaysan ◽

Michael Angelo B. Promentilla ◽

Krista Danielle S. Yu ◽

Raymond R. Tan

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Water Scarcity ◽

Crop Production ◽

Water Footprint ◽

Virtual Water ◽

Trade Flows ◽

Input Output ◽

Virtual Water Trade ◽

Content Type ◽

Economic Productivity

Purpose The onset of climate change is expected to result in variations in weather patterns which can exacerbate water scarcity issues. This can potentially impact the economic productivity of nations as economic activities are highly dependent on water especially for agricultural countries. In response to this, the concepts of virtual water and water footprint have been introduced as metrics for measuring the water intensity of products, services and nations. Researchers have thus looked into virtual water trade flows as a potential strategy for alleviating water scarcity. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach Environmentally extended input-output models (IOMs) are often used to analyze interactions between economic and ecological systems. This work thus develops a multi-regional input-output model for optimizing virtual water trade between different geographic regions in consideration of local environmental resource constraints, product demands and economic productivity. Findings A case study on agriculture crop production and trade in different regions of the Philippines is utilized to demonstrate the capabilities of the model. The results show that the optimal strategy does not necessarily limit a water-scarce region to produce less water-intensive crops. Research limitations/implications The model uses an input-output framework whose fixed coefficients reflect a fixed technological state. As such, the model is best used for short-term projections, or projections for mature technological state (i.e. where no major gains in efficiency or yield can be foreseen). Practical implications The proposed modeling framework can be used in any geographic region (provided relevant statistical data are available for calibration) to provide decision support for optimal use of limited water resources. Originality/value The model proposed in this work has general applicability to the optimal planning of agro-industrial systems under water footprint constraints. This modeling approach will be particularly valuable in the future, as climate change causes changes in precipitation patterns and water availability.

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Water Footprint and Virtual Water Trade of Cash Crops

Examining the Intersection of Circular Economy, Forestry, and International Trade - Advances in Finance, Accounting, and Economics ◽

10.4018/978-1-7998-4990-2.ch015 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 174-194

Author(s):

Sunakshi Budhiraja ◽

Sukanya Das ◽

Badri Narayanan Gopala Krishnan

Keyword(s):

Water Scarcity ◽

Water Footprint ◽

Agricultural Practices ◽

Virtual Water ◽

Virtual Water Trade ◽

Water Flows ◽

Cash Crops ◽

Viable Solution ◽

Sustainable Agricultural Practices ◽

Opening Up

Virtual water flows (VWF) among states or countries have been proposed as a viable solution to mitigate water scarcity. The aim of this study is to assess the virtual water content and flows from India, for six cash crops, coffee, cotton, jute, sugarcane, tea, and tobacco, and their derived products over a period 1980-2013. The virtual water trade (VWT) estimates across three time periods show India to be a net exporter of virtual water for all the cash crops, except jute. The quantity of virtual water traded has increased over the decades with the increase in the quantum of crops traded. With free trade policies and the opening up of the economy, export quantities increased during the 1990s and the period thereafter, leading to larger virtual water exports. Sustainable agricultural practices for all crops, and in all countries, can help in reducing the water flow of these crops and help in controlling the water scarcity solution.

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Workshop 7 (synthesis): role and governance implications of virtual water trade

Water Science & Technology ◽

10.2166/wst.2004.0455 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 49 (7) ◽

pp. 199-201

Author(s):

P. Rogers ◽

M. Nakayama ◽

J. Lundqvist ◽

K. Furuyashiki

Keyword(s):

Food Security ◽

Water Resources ◽

Water Scarcity ◽

Virtual Water ◽

International Negotiations ◽

Potential Solution ◽

Transboundary Water ◽

Virtual Water Trade ◽

Transboundary Water Resources

Virtual water trade (VWT) is a powerful concept which stimulates fresh thinking about water scarcity and management. It is a potential solution for water-short countries to achieve food security. VWT may also have the potential to play a key role in international negotiations over management of transboundary water resources.

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Analysis of intra-country virtual water trade strategy to alleviate water scarcity in Iran

Hydrology and Earth System Sciences ◽

10.5194/hess-14-1417-2010 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 14 (8) ◽

pp. 1417-1433 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

M. Faramarzi ◽

H. Yang ◽

J. Mousavi ◽

R. Schulin ◽

C. R. Binder ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Water Scarcity ◽

Food Production ◽

Water Productivity ◽

National Level ◽

Virtual Water ◽

Mixed Integer ◽

Baseline Scenario ◽

Cropping Pattern ◽

Virtual Water Trade ◽

Cereal Production

Abstract. Increasing water scarcity has posed a major constraint to sustain food production in many parts of the world. To study the situation at the regional level, we took Iran as an example and analyzed how an intra-country "virtual water trade strategy" (VWTS) may help improve cereal production as well as alleviate the water scarcity problem. This strategy calls, in part, for the adjustment of the structure of cropping pattern (ASCP) and interregional food trade where crop yield and crop water productivity as well as local economic and social conditions are taken into account. We constructed a systematic framework to assess ASCP at the provincial level under various driving forces and constraints. A mixed-integer, multi-objective, linear optimization model was developed and solved by linear programming. Data from 1990–2004 were used to account for yearly fluctuations of water availability and food production. Five scenarios were designed aimed at maximizing the national cereal production while meeting certain levels of wheat self-sufficiency under various water and land constraints in individual provinces. The results show that under the baseline scenario, which assumes a continuation of the existing water use and food policy at the national level, some ASCP scenarios could produce more wheat with less water. Based on different scenarios in ASCP, we calculated that 31% to 100% of the total wheat shortage in the deficit provinces could be supplied by the wheat surplus provinces. As a result, wheat deficit provinces would receive 3.5 billion m3 to 5.5 billion m3 of virtual water by importing wheat from surplus provinces.

Download Full-text