This document discusses trends in water management and irrigation in Europe. It notes that while rainfed agricultural land is being abandoned, irrigated land is increasing continuously. Total water abstraction by agriculture has decreased by 17% from 1992 to 2018 due to improvements in water efficiency. However, there are concerns about potential "rebound effects" where water savings could enable expansion of irrigated land or more intensive farming. Looking ahead, climate change is expected to further stress water resources for agriculture through higher temperatures, changing precipitation patterns, and a wider rainfed-irrigated yield gap. The document advocates for policies like cost-reflective water pricing, governance reforms, precision agriculture adoption, and water rights systems to encourage sustainable water management amid increasing

1. Water management as a condition
for the transition towards sustainable
agriculture
JULIO BERBEL (UNIVERSIDAD DE CÓRDOBA/ WEARE GROUP)

2. Policies
Trends
Irrigation water use trends (EU) and solutions
Abandonment of cultivated land (rainfed) ..while irrigated land increase continuosly
Abandonment
of cultivated
land (rainfed)
Irrigated land
increase
Water efficiency
increase
Agroc. Water
abstraction
decrease
Water cost
increase (policy
and technology)
Improved
governance
Precision
farming
𝑾𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒔𝒂𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈
≠ 𝑹𝒆𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅

3. Abandonment of cultivated land (rainfed) ..while
irrigated land increase continuously
Cultivated land total (NED, FRA, GRE, ESP, ITA)
From (1962) 52.5 106 ha
TO (2018) 39.,9 106 ha
𝜟 = −𝟏𝟐. 𝟔 · 𝟏𝟎𝟔
𝒉𝒂 (−𝟐𝟒%).. [- 0,4 p.a.]
0
500
1.000
1.500
2.000
2.500
3.000
3.500
4.000
4.500
1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020
Irrigated land (103 ha)
ESP
ITA
FRA
NED
GRE
50
60
70
80
90
100
110
120
1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020
Arable land area (1962=100)
NED
FRA
GRE
ESP
ITA
Irrigated land total (NED, FRA, GRE, ESP, ITA)
From (1992) 10.5 103 ha
TO (2018) 12.8 103 ha
𝜟 = + 𝟐. 𝟐 · 𝟏𝟎𝟑
𝒉𝒂 (+𝟐𝟏%).. [+ 1% p.a.]
“In the period 2015-2030 about 11% (more than 20 million ha) of agricultural land in the EU are under high potential risk of abandonment”
JRC Policy Insights (2018) Agricultural land abandonment in the EU within 2015-2030
[+ 1% p.a.]
[-0,4% p.a.]
Source: AQUASTAT FAO. Own ellaboration
Source: AQUASTAT FAO. Own ellaboration

4. Good news: water efficiency increase
60
70
80
90
100
110
120
130
1992 1997 2002 2007 2012 2017
5 M.S.(*) EU Irrigated land and water use (1992=100)
Irrigated
land
Agr
Water
use
Total water abstraction
From (1992) 58,5 km3
To (2018) 48,7 km3 Δ = (−𝟏𝟕%)
Higher share
of precision
irrigation
Water cost
increase
Improved
governance
Water quotas
(scarcity)
Farmers
know-how
Others
(agronomy,..)
Drivers
[-0,6% p.a.]
Water use (per ha) decreases from
From 557 mm (1992)
to 382 mm (2018) [-4% p.a.]
(*) NED, FRA, GRE, ESP, ITA =57% of EU27 Agr.Prod.
Source: AQUASTAT FAO. Own ellaboration
[+ 1% p.a.]

5. Higher share of precision irrigation
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
1980 1990 2000 2010 2020
Share of localized irrigation ESP, ITA
ESP ITA
Water use:
Fertilizer
Labour
Difusse
pollution
Water cost
Water
consumpion.
Energy use
-40%
-25%
-80%
(irrigat.)
- 80%
+
No change*
+
Source: AQUASTAT FAO. Own ellaboration

6. Water cost increase (policy and technology)
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
1950 1970 1990 2010
Evolution water use and energy intensity irrigation. Spain
1950=100
Per area water use (m3/ha)
Energy use kWh/m3
0,17 kWh/m3
4018 m3/ha
EU, increased implementation of two-tier water tariff (fixed+volumetric)
Espinosa et al (2020). Energized water: Evolution of water-energy nexus in the Spanish
irrigated agriculture, 1950–2017. Agricultural Water Management, 233
Control (1) Treated (2)
Flat rate (2013-2015) 3,511 7,192
Volumetric tariff (2016-2018) 3,489 4,284
Change (%) -1% -40%
Technological change and cost recovery Policy implementation
Database: 12,500 observations
(1) Consorzio Bentivoglio-Enza (volumetric part 0,025 €/m3 from 2009)
(2) Rest of Consorzio where volumetric wa sintroduced in 2016
Pronti et a. (2020). Analysis of the Impact of a Volumetric Tariff for
Irrigation in Northern Italy Through the" Inverse DiD". SEEDS
Consorzio di Bonifica dell’Emilia Centrale
The high response (-40%) maybe partly exlained for the ‘power
of zero’ (see Shampanier, 2007 “Zero as a special price”

7. Improved governance
Groundwater level indicator and volume authorised
as a function of the level on 1st March
Beauce Aquifer, Central France
Verley, F. (2020). Lessons from twenty years of local volumetric
groundwater management: the case of the Beauce Aquifer, . In
Sustainable Groundwater Management . Springer, Cham.
High Plains Aquifer (HPA) (Kansas)
Zwickle et al (2021). Sustainable irrigation through local collaborative
governance: Evidence for a structural fix in Kansas. Environmental
Science & Policy, 124
Only Water
saving
investment
Water
saving and
governance
structure
Collaborative governance program (SD-6 self-
imposed rules)

8. Increased scarcity
2.000
3.000
4.000
5.000
6.000
7.000
8.000
9.000
1962 1972 1982 1992 2002 2012
Per capita fresh water resources
FRA
GRE
ITA
NED
ESP
Lower per capita
resources
Environmental
flows binding
Higher
competition from
other sectors
New societal
demands
Hernández et al(2019). Análisis del cambio en las aportaciones hidrológicas en la cuenca del
río Júcar. Ingeniería del agua, 23(2), 141-155.
Annual water resources (hm3 p.a.) Jucar river (1940-2012)
Trend (1940-2012)
Source: AQUASTAT FAO. Own ellaboration

9. Farmers “know-how” improve

10. 𝑾𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒔𝒂𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 ≠ 𝑹𝒆𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅
𝐻𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑒𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑦
⟹ ∇ 𝑊𝑖𝑡ℎ𝑑𝑟𝑎𝑤𝑎𝑙 & ∇ 𝑅𝑒𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑛𝑠
Avoided
Quota control
(public or
voluntary)
Return flow
not recovered
(e.g., sea)
Water rights
reduced
No area
increase
Rebound
Area increase
Withdrawal
rights
unchanged
Farm
intensification

11. Future (CC)
Shorter
growing
period
Higher
ETP Annual Precipitation/ ETP (Timișoara, Romania 1898–2019)
* Zhao et al (2017). Temperature increase reduces global yields of
major crops in four independent estimates. PNAS, 114(35)
Wider rainfed-irrigated
yield gap
Increased pressure for
irrigated land
Wheat
(-6-22%)
Rice
(-3 to -10%)
Maize
(-8 to -27%)
Yield changes at 2100*

12. But..
Some policy options for irrigation (for stressed
regions)
Promote the use of more efficient irrigation
systems
Implement rebound prevention measures
Reduce / control water abstractions
Be realistic with ‘real water savings’ (return
flows must be accounted)
Cost recovery water services (including GW
policing)
Include a volumetric part to induce savings
Support precision agriculture adoption
Prioritize environmental services (water,
fertilizer, chemicals)
Promote public-private governance schemes
(urgently)
Support of voluntary (or non-voluntary)
agreements with public intervention
Water rights trade and water banks to increase
long- and short-term adaptation
Supported by robust hydrological knowledge

13. Ellen Hanak and Jeffrey Mount (2019) Water Use in California
PPIC