Promoting innovation in water management for agriculture

Agriculture irrigation accounts for 70% of water use worldwide and over 40% in many OECD countries. Predictions for the UK suggest that there will be a shortfall in water available for agriculture (and everyone else) unless a multidisciplinary approach is taken

Availability of water – enough of it, and in the right place, at the right time – is already a major limiting factor to an increasing number of farm businesses across the UK and internationally. And the problem is set to get worse.

In Eastern England alone, for example, agriculture is set to lose access to approximately 17 % of water currently used for spray irrigation at the peak of summer, unless a smarter approach to water management is adopted.

Globally, crop irrigation accounts for 70 % of water use worldwide and over 40 % in many OECD countries.

Building resilience to drought and flood – sometimes in the same field – are already priorities for many businesses and researchers to help mitigate the pressing challenges. Predictions for the UK suggest there will be a significant shortfall in the water available for everyone – not least agriculture – unless a collaborative, multi-disciplinary approach is adopted, where technology, behavourial change and policy work together.

Water Innovation for Agriculture – 8th February 2023, Cranfield University, MK43 0AL

Agri-TechE is convening an afternoon of discussion and learning with those developing cutting-edge technologies to manage water more effectively. We’ll be considering approaches such as drip irrigation, de-salinisation and novel materials and approaches to increase the water-holding capacity of soils (or other growing medium).