Pathways to Future Water Management



Friday, 12. October 2007 | 11:30 Uhr

Speaker

Mark W. Rosegrant

Organisation

CGIAR, Washington

Reporting

Mark Rosegrant, EPTD Director, CGIAR, Washington focuses his presentation on aquaculture, biotechnology, bio fuel and climate change and their consequences for water and food reserves. The challenges are: production of more food with less irrigation and constant acreage and improvement of water quality with falling groundwater levels. Between 1995 and 2025, the demand for crops will increase in developing countries by 70% and in industrialized countries by 15%. Meat consumption is expected to rise substantially in developing areas, while it will decrease in the West. In the year 1995, 100 million tons of crops were lost due to water shortage; by the year 2025, this might reach 300 million tons. Aquacultures create pollutants and algae growth and lead to oxygen shortage. In 2005, 56% of aquacultures were based on fresh water. Biotechnology (producing higher plant resistance), could help to combat droughts and salination but social acceptance of this is doubtful as it would involve genetic engineering. Bio fuels are extremely controversial if they affect food production, especially with increased water consumption. Climate change has a higher impact on poor countries that emit fewer pollutants: it increases temperatures and the frequency of floods and droughts. It is doubtful whether CO2 trade makes sense. The number and quality of water resources are threatened. Mankind has to react flexibly and suitably to shortages of food and water. Generally, water is too cheap compared to targeted investments to be made; subsidies have to be abolished and prices need to be increased. Management and strategies must be adapted. Recycling, saving potential and efficiency need to be optimized. Bio diversity and reforestation have to be fostered. Means of finance are to be expanded and offered on a global scale. Water and food, land and air interact. Innovative strategies are required. Challenges also mean chances. Questions/comments from the audience: It is inexplicable that the US subsidizes corn based bio fuel production. A YES Alumni participant criticizes that genetically modified production on a large scale destroys land in Latin America. She also questions why phenomena are discussed, but causes are not analysed. Related to bio fuels, an eye has to be kept on clearing and reforestation. And we should not delude ourselves with carbon trading. Prof. Kinzelbach believes that a model with increased prices, no subsidies and regulation encourages water conservation.

Mark W. Rosegrant

Mark W. Rosegrant is Director, Environment and Production Technology Division, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).

A Ph.D. in Public Policy from the University of Michigan, he has 28 years of experience in research and policy analysis in agriculture and economic development, with an emphasis on water resources and other critical natural resource and agricultural policy issues as they impact food security, rural livelihoods and environmental sustainability.

Rosegrant developed IFPRI’s International Model for Policy Analysis of Agricultural Commodities and Trade (IMPACT), which has become a standard for projections and scenarios for global and regional food demand, supply, trade and prices; and IMPACT-WATER, which integrates a detailed water supply and demand model with the food model.

He currently directs research on climate change, water resources, sustainable land management, genetic resources and biotechnology, and agriculture and energy.

Donators and Partners

The ETH Board is responsible for the strategic leadership of the ETH domain and assumes the supervision of its institutions. Its close relationship with the ETH Council has contributed to the successful continuation of Academia Engelberg Foundation since 2000.

The Foundation promotes research into the connecting human fundamentals of science. Academia Engelberg Foundation and the Foundation for Basic Research in Human Sciences have entered into a cooperation agreement for the period 2011 to 2015.

Helvetia is a quality-oriented comprehensive insurance company with over 150 years of experience. Academia Engelberg Foundation is convinced it will be able to use important synergies from the partnership starting in 2015.

A partnership with the University of Lucerne has existed since summer 2013. Since 2016 we have also a parthership with the Faculty of Economics and Management of the University of Lucerne. Through these partnerships, synergies are used and joint projects are tested and realized. The University of Lucerne currently consists of three faculties: the faculties for Theology, Culture and Social Sciences, and Law.