Agriculture

Globally, the agricultural sector consumes about 70% of the planet’s accessible freshwater. Because water is vital for the success of agriculture, proper water management techniques are necessary to meet food and fiber material demands around the world. Resources available here pay special attention to efficient irrigation and sustainable agriculture techniques.

Agriculture Resources

AquaCrop-OS

Publication date:
August 1, 2016
Robert B. Daugherty Water for Food Institute at the University of Nebraska
This free software tool, developed by the Water for Food Global Institute and worldwide partners, is an extension of FAO’s AquaCrop model enabling scientists and practitioners to explore the economic, social, and environmental implications of agricultural water use.Read more
Regional/Country focus:
Global

Community Water Projects

The Coca-Cola Company
This map shows how Coca-Cola is working to help ensure the long-term availability of water, a critical resource to both local communities and Coca-Cola's operations. Read more
Regional/Country focus:
Global

Insights from the Comprehensive Assessment of Water Management in Agriculture

Publication date:
July 13, 2021
The Comprehensive Assessment of Water Management in Agriculture critically evaluates choices about water, food and ecosystems to provide policy-relevant recommendations on the way forward. This report contains insights about using marginal quality water as a resource, managing agriculture to...Read more
Regional/Country focus:
Global

Update: 2016 AgWater Challenge

Publication date:
July 16, 2021
Seven companies made public commitments around water that reflected their leadership and their understanding that they can be a powerful and constructive force for people and planet. This report covers their individual goals and some of the progress made in the year following the launch of the...Read more
Regional/Country focus:
Global

AgWater Fact Sheet

Publication date:
July 16, 2021
To help companies reduce their water risks and impacts on local watersheds, Ceres and World Wildlife Fund have launched the AgWater Challenge – an initiative that aims to highlight leadership, as well as new, improved commitments on water stewardship, specifically stronger, more transparent targets...Read more
Regional/Country focus:
Global

Livestock Water Use

Publication date:
July 21, 2021
Livestock water use is water associated with livestock watering, feedlots, dairy operations, and other on-farm needs. Livestock includes dairy cows and heifers, beef cattle and calves, sheep and lambs, goats, hogs and pigs, horses, and poultry. Other livestock water uses include cooling of...Read more
Regional/Country focus:
United States

Pesticides and Water Quality

Publication date:
July 21, 2021
Pesticides are used in agriculture, in homes and businesses, on lawns and gardens, along roads, in recreational areas, and on pets and livestock. There are hundreds of different pesticide chemicals in use in the United States. In 2007, about 390 million kilograms (430,000 tons) of pesticides,...Read more
Regional/Country focus:
United States

Irrigation Water Use

Publication date:
July 21, 2021
Irrigation water use includes water that is applied by an irrigation system to sustain plant growth in agricultural and horticultural practices. Irrigation also includes water that is used for pre-irrigation, frost protection, chemical application, weed control, field preparation, crop cooling,...Read more
Regional/Country focus:
United States

Agriculture and the Quality of the Nation's Waters

Publication date:
July 21, 2021
Intensive studies by the USGS National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Project in agricultural areas provide insight into how agricultural activities have altered the natural flow of water and the way that agricultural chemicals enter streams and aquifers, and in particular how nutrients affect...Read more
Regional/Country focus:
United States

USGS Blue Carbon Projects

Publication date:
July 22, 2021
Blue carbon projects aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and avert the worst effects of climate change by storing carbon in ocean-based environmental restoration projects like seaweed farms. The USGS Blue Carbon (vegetated coastal ecosystems) Projects work with partner organizations to collect,...Read more
Regional/Country focus:
United States

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