Special Call for Research Grant applications on
Use of Water as a Scarce Resource in Biological Production
The Importance of Efficient Use of Water Resources
We cannot afford to use a resource as precious as water inefficiently. For the world to support a population double its current size in 2050, ensuring water availability for adequate food production is an imperative which cannot be ignored. The amount of water we “eat” through growing food is one or two orders of magnitude greater than that which we consume for drinking and sanitation. In many areas there is scarcely sufficient water for adequate agricultural production today let alone the future. Scientists have estimated that the amount of water consumed by agricultural evapotranspiration would have to increase by an enormous amount (6,100 km3 to 9,700 km3) given current trends. The possibility of identifying sources of this extra water is low and so the alternative, higher productivity (‘more crop per drop’), together with reducing the amount of water wasted in irrigation will more likely plug the future (and present) food gap. In addition to the above, we need to encourage farmers to make long-term investments in the well-being of soil and land management to prevent soil degradation and deterioration which cancel out savings in water usage and agricultural productivity. Scientific, social and economic factors must all be considered in a research context. Notwithstanding the difficult and complex challenges, there is a need for a new generation of water professionals who are able to rise to this challenge.
The International Foundation for Science (IFS) and the Swedish International Development Agency (Sida/NATUR), have commenced a project "Use of Water as a Scarce Resource in Biological Production". Through the project, support is provided to research and capacity building that improves the productivity of water for biological production (annual field crops, perennials, forage crops, trees, animal production, freshwater aquaculture etc.). The following priority research areas have been identified:
- Plant characteristics related to water productivity and the development of drought and salinity resistance crop varieties
- Interactions between plant cover (including crops, trees and pasture), livestock, solid and water
- Catchment and subcatchment level studies of the "flow" of water through the landscape and its distribution between run-off, ground storage, evaporation and evapo-transpiration,
- Adaptation of existing sustainable technologies and processes for water harvesting and irrigation techniques to local environmental conditions and the development of new technologies and processes designed for local conditions,
- Socio-cultural, economic and institutional (i.e. rules and norms) factors affecting the adoption of sustainable technologies and processes by farmers, pastoralists and other agricultural stakeholders.
- Soil fertility
Call for Research Proposals
IFS invites applications for IFS research grants (which have a maximum value
of USD 12,000) with proposals on any of the above themes.
For more details:
When is the deadline?
Applications must be received by IFS no later than December 31, 2007.
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