GROundWater sustainability and crop production

Introduction

Groundwater is the largest freshwater resource on earth and is crucial for people and the environment. In many regions around the world, groundwater is used unsustainably. Consequently, groundwater levels drop, leading to drying rivers and wells, salt intrusion, land subsidence, and groundwater depletion.

Impact of Irrigated Agriculture

Irrigated agriculture is the largest user of groundwater worldwide and is responsible for current hotspots of negative impacts, especially for intensively irrigated regions of the world. Already, many rivers in these regions have reached their environmentally critical streamflow, which is necessary to maintain healthy ecosystems.

Future Challenges

With expected increasing water demands and climate change, the pressure on our groundwater resources will increase further, and new regions experiencing negative impacts will develop. To reduce and prevent these impacts, groundwater uses should be reduced. At the same time, crop productivity should be maintained to protect global food security.

Research Questions

This poses for me the urgent question:

1. What is the current and future environmentally safe operation space for global groundwater use?
2. What is, and will be, the impact of sustainable groundwater use on crop production worldwide?

Project Objectives

In this project, I will provide a better understanding of groundwater availability worldwide. My project will:

• Define the environmentally safe operating space for current and future groundwater use.
• Define and quantify the key trade-offs between sustainable groundwater use and crop production.

Methodology

I will develop a novel and innovative modelling framework that connects groundwater, surface water, and crop growth. The model will be linked to novel future water demand scenarios, including adaptation strategies towards sustainable groundwater use worldwide.

Expected Outcomes

The results will show globally where and when competition for groundwater between the environment and crop production is largest and whether sustainable groundwater use can support current and future crop production.