How important is the Virtual How important is the Virtual water debate in ensuring food water debate in ensuring food

security?security?

Paul van Paul van HofwegenHofwegen

Why the debate?

Virtual water debate initiated to address

– Agricultural versus environmental water use

– Water productivity and agriculture in water scarce areas

Match or mismatch 1?

IMPORT OR INVEST

Undernourished People by Country (FAO-1998)

Water Infrastructure

Exporter volumes of virtual water in food trade (Oki, 2003)

Global Water Saving (Comprehensive Assessment 2004

• All imports (214 Mton) would have required 433 km3 crop water and 179 km3 local irrigation water depletion.

• Global water saving: 163 km3 crop water and 112 km3 local irrigation water depletion (11%).

Match or mismatch 1?• Awareness of the VW concept can result

in water savings

• Virtual water flows are going to those countries that can afford food imports.

• In these countries it can be considered an alternative for investments– Trade arrangement – agreements– Geo-political dimension

Match or mismatch 2 ?

NATIONAL vs LOCAL

Food insecurity in India (FAO 2004)

Exporter volumes of virtual water in food trade (Oki, 2003)

Match or mismatch 2 ?

Local Food Security• Virtual water trade can only improve local food

security – distribution makes food locally available– food is affordable– food is absorbable

Match or mismatch 3 ?

LIVELIHOODS

Nkya• Nkya can secure food for him and his family if:

– He has access to land and water, he is healthy and it is safe• Nkya can develop if:

– He has secured water and land rights– He has access to markets, affordable technology and inputs– He can cope with insecurity of water (droughts – floods)– He has access to finance for investments necessary

• Virtual water trade will affect his livelihood– Water rights are affected– Local market prices are affected– Production subsidies are affected

Pak Syukri

• Virtual water policies will affect local food security if irrigation water allocation priorities are changed– Out of agriculture– Out of high water consuming – low

value crops (staple food)

Some dimensions: viable farming - poverty

SURVIVALSURVIVAL

COMMERCIALCOMMERCIAL

SUBSISTENCESUBSISTENCE

MORE and betterMORE and better

LANDLANDWATER WATER -- iNPUTSiNPUTS

MARKETMARKETSERVICESSERVICES

MORE and betterMORE and better

LANDLANDWATER WATER -- INPUTSINPUTS

MARKETMARKETSERVICESSERVICES AlternativeAlternative

employment employment income income

generationgeneration

Match or mismatch 3 ?

Virtual water trade policy may affect the livelihoods of the ‘survival’ and ‘subsistence’ farmers.

Matching policy on investments in creation alternative employment opportunities essential.

Match or mismatch 4 ?

DIETS

Virtual Water Content

Menu

Match or mismatch 4 ?

• Development towards meat based diets has an important impact on – Water resources required– Water pollution

• Awareness of Virtual Water content may contribute to lesser growth

Does the debate contribute to food security?

• The debate informs decision makers on the potential and consequences of virtual water based policies.

• The debate allows for

Conscious Choices

Thank you for your attention !