PapersFlow Research Brief
Agriculture, Water, and Health
Research Guide
What is Agriculture, Water, and Health?
Agriculture, Water, and Health is an interdisciplinary field examining the interconnections between agricultural practices, water resource management, and their impacts on human health and sustainability, particularly through topics like irrigation systems, climate change effects, and food production requirements.
The field encompasses 35,863 papers on water resource management, sustainability, and climate change impacts on traditional systems such as tank cascades in Sri Lanka. It addresses hydrogeochemistry, agricultural protection, wastewater treatment, and ecosystem services in water management. Key works project global agricultural production to rise 60 percent by 2050 to meet population growth to 9.15 billion.
Topic Hierarchy
Research Sub-Topics
Tank Cascade Systems
Researchers analyze traditional tank cascade systems in Sri Lanka for water storage, distribution, and agricultural resilience under climate variability. Studies model hydrological performance, sedimentation, and modernization strategies.
Hydrogeochemistry of Irrigation Water
This sub-topic investigates geochemical processes in groundwater and surface water used for irrigation, including salinity, nutrient dynamics, and pollutant fate. Research applies isotopic and modeling tools to assess water quality impacts on crops.
Climate Change Impacts on Water Management
Studies quantify effects of rainfall variability, droughts, and temperature shifts on water resources and traditional management in tropical regions. Researchers develop adaptation scenarios using climate models and vulnerability assessments.
Wastewater Treatment in Agriculture
Researchers evaluate biological, physical, and chemical treatments for agricultural wastewater to remove pathogens, nutrients, and organics before reuse. Focus includes constructed wetlands, anaerobic digestion, and cost-effectiveness.
Ecosystem Services in Water Management
This area quantifies regulating, provisioning, and cultural services from wetlands, forests, and riparian zones in sustaining water quality and quantity. Studies integrate economic valuation and restoration strategies.
Why It Matters
Agriculture, Water, and Health influences food security and public health by linking water availability to crop and livestock production. Alexandratos and Bruinsma (2012) in "World agriculture towards 2030/2050: the 2012 revision" project agricultural output must increase 60 percent from 2005/07 levels by 2050 for 9.15 billion people, stressing water demands. Gerten et al. (2011) in "Global Water Availability and Requirements for Future Food Production" compare per capita water availability and food production needs under climate and population changes, showing future shortages in regions like South Asia. Thornton (2010) in "Livestock production: recent trends, future prospects" notes livestock demand growth in developing countries strains water resources, affecting health via nutrition. Siebert et al. (2005) in "Development and validation of the global map of irrigation areas" map irrigation extents, aiding protection of agriculture-dependent health outcomes.
Reading Guide
Where to Start
"Development and validation of the global map of irrigation areas" by Siebert et al. (2005) as it provides foundational geospatial data on irrigation from 10,825 units, essential for understanding water-agriculture links.
Key Papers Explained
Alexandratos and Bruinsma (2012) in "World agriculture towards 2030/2050: the 2012 revision" sets mid-century production targets at 60 percent growth, which Thornton (2010) in "Livestock production: recent trends, future prospects" extends to dynamic sector trends. Siebert et al. (2005) in "Development and validation of the global map of irrigation areas" supplies irrigation data underpinning Gerten et al. (2011) in "Global Water Availability and Requirements for Future Food Production," modeling water-food mismatches. Kumar et al. (2018) in "Millets: a solution to agrarian and nutritional challenges" builds on these by proposing dry land solutions.
Paper Timeline
Most-cited paper highlighted in red. Papers ordered chronologically.
Advanced Directions
Field frontiers involve integrating LPJmL model projections from Gerten et al. (2011) with tank cascade adaptations for climate resilience, amid no recent preprints. Focus persists on hydrogeochemistry and ecosystem services for wastewater in agriculture.
Papers at a Glance
| # | Paper | Year | Venue | Citations | Open Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | World agriculture towards 2030/2050: the 2012 revision | 2012 | RePEc: Research Papers... | 3.1K | ✓ |
| 2 | Livestock production: recent trends, future prospects | 2010 | Philosophical Transact... | 2.1K | ✓ |
| 3 | FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) | 1981 | — | 1.7K | ✕ |
| 4 | Development and validation of the global map of irrigation areas | 2005 | Hydrology and earth sy... | 613 | ✓ |
| 5 | A concept for simultaneous wasteland reclamation, fuel product... | 2005 | Natural Resources Forum | 504 | ✕ |
| 6 | World livestock 2011 - livestock in food security. | 2011 | — | 397 | ✕ |
| 7 | The secondary exploitation of animals in the Old World | 1983 | World Archaeology | 394 | ✕ |
| 8 | Millets: a solution to agrarian and nutritional challenges | 2018 | Agriculture & Food Sec... | 360 | ✓ |
| 9 | Secretaría de Salud | 2006 | — | 319 | ✕ |
| 10 | Global Water Availability and Requirements for Future Food Pro... | 2011 | Journal of Hydrometeor... | 267 | ✕ |
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the projected global agricultural production needs by 2050?
Alexandratos and Bruinsma (2012) in "World agriculture towards 2030/2050: the 2012 revision" project production and consumption 60 percent higher than 2005/07 levels. This responds to population reaching 9.15 billion. Water management is key to achieving these targets.
How do livestock trends impact water resources?
Thornton (2010) in "Livestock production: recent trends, future prospects" describes dynamic growth in developing countries due to demand for products. Production systems increase efficiency but strain water in water-energy-food nexus. This affects sustainability and health.
What is the role of irrigation mapping in agriculture?
Siebert et al. (2005) in "Development and validation of the global map of irrigation areas" combine statistics from 10,825 units with geospatial data. The map shows irrigation percentages at 5 arc minute resolution. It supports water resource planning for crops.
How does water availability affect future food production?
Gerten et al. (2011) in "Global Water Availability and Requirements for Future Food Production" use LPJmL model for 1971–2000 and 2070–99 projections. It reveals spatial mismatches between water supply and food needs. Climate and population changes exacerbate risks.
Why are millets relevant to water-scarce agriculture?
Kumar et al. (2018) in "Millets: a solution to agrarian and nutritional challenges" highlight suitability for dry lands with low fertility. They address grain production needs without heavy irrigation. Millets tackle both agrarian and nutritional issues.
What traditional systems are studied in water management?
The field covers tank cascade systems and ancient irrigation in Sri Lanka per the cluster description. These sustain agriculture amid climate change. They integrate traditional knowledge with modern sustainability.
Open Research Questions
- ? How will climate change alter water requirements for the projected 60 percent increase in global agricultural production by 2050?
- ? What adaptations in livestock systems can reduce water demands while meeting rising product needs in developing countries?
- ? How can global irrigation maps inform policies to balance water availability and future food production under population growth?
- ? Which dry land crops like millets best mitigate hydrogeochemical risks in traditional cascade systems?
- ? What ecosystem services can enhance wastewater treatment for agricultural protection in water-stressed regions?
Recent Trends
The cluster holds 35,863 works with growth data unavailable, maintaining emphasis on sustainability and climate impacts from 2012 projections in Alexandratos and Bruinsma.
No recent preprints or news in last 12 months indicate steady state.
Millets gain traction per Kumar et al. for dry lands.
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