2 ways you can conserve the water used to make your food – The Conversation

Agricultural Water Conservation Strategies for Achieving Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: Climate Change, Water Scarcity, and the Imperative for Sustainable Agriculture

Global climate warming is exacerbating the frequency of droughts and water shortages, presenting a significant threat to agricultural productivity and global food security. This challenge directly impacts the achievement of several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation). Addressing this requires a comprehensive strategy that enhances water conservation throughout the entire food system, from farm to consumer, in line with SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).

On-Farm Water Management and Sustainable Agricultural Practices

Farmers are central to implementing sustainable water use. Their efforts align with multiple SDGs by improving resource efficiency and building resilience.

Improving Irrigation Efficiency for SDG 6

A primary focus has been the modernization of irrigation techniques to ensure sustainable water management. This involves a transition from less efficient methods to precision systems that deliver water directly to plant roots.

• Flood Irrigation: A traditional and less efficient method where water flows through trenches.
• Sprinkler Systems: A more precise method of water delivery.
• Drip Systems: A highly efficient method that minimizes water loss.

Sustainable Farming Practices for SDG 15 and Climate Resilience

Beyond irrigation, broader agricultural practices are essential for long-term sustainability and achieving SDG 15 (Life on Land) and SDG 13 (Climate Action).

1. Crop-to-Environment Matching: Selecting crops suited to local land, water, and climate conditions reduces stress on scarce resources and promotes sustainable food production.
2. Enhancing Soil Health: Healthy soil is a living system capable of retaining more water, which is critical for crop resilience during droughts. Practices that build soil health are fundamental to sustainable agriculture.
   • Planting cover crops during the off-season to protect and enrich the soil.
   • Reducing tillage to maintain soil structure and prevent moisture loss.
   • Applying compost to improve soil fertility and water-holding capacity.
   • Rotating different types of crops to enhance soil health and nutrient cycles.

The Consumer Role in Advancing SDG 12: Responsible Consumption

Consumer choices throughout the food supply chain—from processing and distribution to households—are critical drivers of agricultural water demand. Two key areas for consumer action directly support the targets of SDG 12.

Dietary Choices and Water Footprints

Dietary preferences have a major impact on agricultural water consumption, as meat production is significantly more water-intensive than plant-based food production.

• Beef Production: Requires an estimated 1,800 gallons of water per pound.
• Chicken Production: Requires approximately 500 gallons of water per pound.

Shifting toward plant-based foods or proteins with a lower water footprint can substantially reduce an individual’s water use. A complete transition to nutritionally equivalent plant-based foods could cut an average American’s food-related water use by nearly 30%, contributing directly to SDG 6 and SDG 12.

Addressing Food Waste to Achieve SDG 12.3

Reducing food waste is one of the most effective actions for conserving agricultural water. In the United States, 22% of total water use is linked to the production of food that is ultimately wasted, undermining progress on SDG 2 and SDG 6. This issue is specifically targeted by SDG Target 12.3, which calls for halving per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels.

• In high-income nations, most food waste occurs at the retail and household levels.
• In the U.S., households are responsible for nearly 50% of all discarded food.

By minimizing food waste, consumers can generate significant water savings, reduce environmental pressure, and achieve financial benefits, thereby making a direct and powerful contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article addresses several interconnected Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by focusing on the challenges of water scarcity in agriculture, driven by climate change, and proposing solutions at both the production and consumption levels.

• SDG 2: Zero Hunger: The article directly relates to this goal by discussing the struggle of farmers to “produce enough food” due to climate change and water shortages. It explores solutions for sustainable food production systems and resilient agricultural practices.
• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation: This is a central theme, as the article’s primary focus is on conserving water in agriculture to address “droughts and water shortages.” It examines methods to improve water-use efficiency from the farm to the consumer.
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production: The article heavily emphasizes the role of consumers. It highlights how dietary choices (meat vs. plant-based foods) and reducing food waste are critical for sustainable water use, directly linking to responsible consumption patterns.
• SDG 13: Climate Action: The article frames the entire issue within the context of climate change, stating that “the world’s climate warms and droughts and water shortages are becoming more common.” The proposed agricultural practices are presented as ways for farmers to adapt to these climate impacts.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the article’s discussion, several specific SDG targets can be identified:

1. Target 2.4 (under SDG 2): “By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production… that strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change, extreme weather, drought… and that progressively improve land and soil quality.”
   • Explanation: The article details resilient agricultural practices such as improving soil health through cover crops, reduced tillage, compost application, and crop rotation. It also mentions matching crops to local conditions to “make food production more sustainable in the long run” and help crops survive “even during droughts.”
2. Target 6.4 (under SDG 6): “By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity…”
   • Explanation: The article is centered on this target. It discusses improving “irrigation efficiency” by moving from flood irrigation to “precise methods of delivering water” like sprinklers and drip systems. It also quantifies water savings from consumer actions, such as changing diets and reducing waste, which contribute to overall water-use efficiency.
3. Target 12.3 (under SDG 12): “By 2030, halve per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels and reduce food losses along production and supply chains…”
   • Explanation: A significant portion of the article is dedicated to this target, calling the reduction of food waste the “simplest and most powerful step” for water conservation. It specifies that in the U.S., “households alone account for nearly 50% of all food discarded,” identifying a key area for intervention at the consumer level.
4. Target 13.1 (under SDG 13): “Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.”
   • Explanation: The article begins by linking water scarcity to a warming climate. The farming techniques it promotes—such as improving soil’s ability to “hold more water”—are direct methods for strengthening the resilience of agricultural systems to climate-related hazards like drought.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article mentions or implies several quantitative and qualitative indicators that can be used to measure progress.

• For Target 2.4 & 13.1 (Sustainable and Resilient Agriculture):
  • Indicator: Adoption rate of specific agricultural practices. The article implies this by listing practices like planting “cover crops,” “reducing tillage,” “applying compost,” and “rotating different types of crops.” Progress could be measured by the percentage of farmland utilizing these techniques.
• For Target 6.4 (Water-Use Efficiency):
  • Indicator: Change in irrigation technology. The article contrasts “flood irrigation” with “sprinklers and drip systems.” A measurable indicator would be the percentage of irrigated land using high-efficiency systems.
  • Indicator: Water footprint of food. The article provides specific data points: “a pound of beef requires an estimated 1,800 gallons of water, compared with about 500 gallons for a pound of chicken.” Changes in consumption patterns of these goods can serve as an indicator of changing water demand.
  • Indicator: Reduction in food-related water use. The article states that replacing meat with plant-based foods could “cut the average American’s food-related water use by nearly 30%.” This percentage reduction is a direct indicator of progress.
• For Target 12.3 (Food Waste):
  • Indicator: Percentage of food wasted at the household level. The article provides a baseline figure for the U.S., where households “account for nearly 50% of all food discarded.” A reduction in this percentage would indicate progress.
  • Indicator: Percentage of water use tied to food production that is wasted. The article states this is “22% of total water use” in the United States. Tracking this figure over time would measure the impact of food waste reduction on water conservation.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: theconversation.com