An Integrated Tool for Water Policy in Agriculture (2004)
BibTeX
@MISC{Council04anintegrated,
author = {Bazzani-National Research Council},
title = {An Integrated Tool for Water Policy in Agriculture},
year = {2004}
}
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Abstract
The definition of proper tools to support the implementation of Water Framework Directive (WFD) is an urgent task in the European Union (EU). Agriculture deserves special attention since in most countries water consumption is higher than in other sectors and pollution due to irrigated agricultural activity is often a serious problem, while social and cultural issues are relevant. The paper presents a program called DSIRR designed to conduct an integrated analysis of water use in agriculture considering agronomic, hydraulic, economic and environmental aspects as well as complexity and uncertainty for decision making. The tool permits to analyze in great detail the relevant production systems existing in a catchment integrating stakeholders perspectives. The impact of markets, water and agricultural policies, climate, technological innovation can be assessed and the ex-ante analysis of economic instruments, suggested by WFD for cost recovery according with polluter-pays principle, conducted. Scenario analysis is used to cope with uncertainty. The paper presents a study conducted in the Po Basin in Italy comparing the impact of a water pricing and of the EU agricultural policy reform on annual and perennial crops systems. A set of indicators quantifies important differences in social, economical and environmental dimensions and suggests to adopt selective interventions. The results permit to appreciate the relevance of the tool to generate information to support the participatory policy process of basin plan implementation. A graphical user interface, a modular architecture, an open structure, a rich set of models, standardized database, make DSIRR a flexible and powerful tool for a more sustainable agriculture and a sound water policy in agriculture.
Keyphrases
water policy integrated tool open structure indicator quantifies important difference proper tool great detail serious problem urgent task selective intervention environmental aspect technological innovation polluter-pays principle decision making special attention integrated analysis country water consumption po basin ex-ante analysis graphical user interface relevant production system eu agricultural policy reform economic instrument environmental dimension water use basin plan implementation cost recovery powerful tool water pricing european union irrigated agricultural activity sustainable agriculture scenario analysis perennial crop system stakeholder perspective cultural issue standardized database water framework directive sound water policy agricultural policy participatory policy process modular architecture rich set
