22 March, World Water Day – Accelerating Change

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Without water, there is no agricultural production. | Author Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food

The importance of water in agriculture and food production

Agriculture can cause water pollution, mainly through the improper or excessive use of organic and mineral fertilisers and plant protection products. Therefore, one of the strategic orientations for the development of Slovenian agriculture is to reduce its negative impacts on natural resources, in particular drinking water sources. Agricultural policy measures also support agriculture in its environmental function. They promote above-standard sustainable agricultural practices aimed at proper water and soil management, biodiversity and landscape conservation, as well as mitigation of climate change and adaptation of farming to climate change. These payments "reward" the farmer as a custodian of the environment, whose activities, in addition to food production, protect water and soil, and preserve nature.

Climate change means adapting to new facts. One of the sectors most affected by climate change is agriculture. Rising temperatures, extreme weather events, and different rainfall patterns are posing new challenges to food production. The response to this is the introduction of new types of crops into agricultural production and the irrigation of farmland. Slovenia has a lot of experience in irrigating farmland. Today and in the near future, irrigation will become essential to ensure stable crop production as well as high-quality crops. For the construction of new irrigation systems and their placement in the environment, inter-ministerial cooperation (especially in the fields of water, agriculture and nature) is crucial. Slovenia is a water-rich country. Water and soil are its assets, and the link between them is in the irrigation of farmland.

As we can see, there is no agricultural production without water, whether we grow food outdoors or in greenhouses, in soil or in substrates. In agriculture and food production/processing, we are very aware of the importance of water and the costs involved, which is why we encourage agricultural practices and methods of food production and processing that make the most rational use of water. Therefore, under the selection criteria for applications, priority is given to investment projects that:

• ensure that water consumption per kg of crop is kept to a minimum (e.g. food production in greenhouses),
• maximise water savings in case of outdoor irrigation,
• introduce drip irrigation systems,
• introduce technologies that allow water to be reused in the technological process (warehouses, preparation of goods for the market, processing plants),
• are earmarked for the construction of stormwater storage facilities,
• enable a circular economy in food production and fish farming (e. g. aquaponics),
• contribute to the reuse of waste and by-products.

It is also an often-overlooked fact that water is one of the basic ingredients of foodstuffs in the food industry. It is a constituent of many food products and as such must be clean and safe. In good hygiene practice, only potable water - even when steamed - should be used for cleaning all objects and surfaces that come into contact with foodstuffs. Food business operators should also pay particular attention to the preparation of ice intended to be added to beverages and other foodstuffs.

But it is also crucial for consumers to realise that water was also needed for discarded food or food that is thrown in the garbage. Responsible consumption and handling of food are therefore important elements of sustainable food production and consumption, and consequently of clean (drinking) water consumption.

The importance of forests for water

The strategic and operational documents governing forest management and forestry practice also take into account the importance and role of water for the state of the environment and the supply of clean drinking water. Forests are an ecosystem that contributes significantly to maintaining good groundwater and surface water status. Stable and healthy forests can retain and gradually release water. This means that, in the face of climate change and extreme weather events, they are irreplaceable for balancing the water regime without extreme water flows, reducing the risk of flood. In areas facing water scarcity, forest management should be coordinated with water management objectives. Forests are important for maintaining the natural balance of aquatic and riparian ecosystems. Forestry, therefore, works with stakeholders in water management and nature conservation in an interdisciplinary planning process to establish and maintain riparian vegetation. The role of forests in providing drinking water is most threatened or diminished by the many wild garbage dumps.

The importance of water for fisheries and aquaculture

Water covers more than 70% of the Earth's surface, and is also present in the atmosphere, in the soil and underground. Water is where the first organic molecules were formed 4 billion years ago, from which living beings evolved in the course of evolution. Even today, living beings can be found practically everywhere water is present. There are more than 20,000 known species of fish alone. Access to water has become so commonplace that we only realise its importance when it is scarce.

Commercial and sport fishing is carried out at sea, where many other activities take place; transport, (nautical) tourism, etc. A maritime spatial plan, as a collection of information on all activities at sea, is therefore particularly important. In the next financial framework, the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund will allocate quite a lot of funds to improving the state of the sea: to achieve the objectives of the common fisheries policy, to improve marine data and its management, and to improve marine biodiversity. Aquaculture depends on both the sea and inland waters. Shellfish farming is important from an environmental point of view, as shellfish filter water and can contribute to reducing CO2 in the sea. However, aquaculture taking place in inland waters is increasingly dependent on inland water flows. As dry seasons are getting longer, more and more attention is being paid to the introduction of new technologies that require less water intake and to different ways of improving the oxygen content of the waters used in aquaculture.

Fisheries and aquaculture are of course inextricably linked to water, but clean water is especially important for both activities. Water is the best solvent, and even substances that are toxic to aquatic organisms are soluble in it. Most of the responsibility for this lies with man's activities and, above all, his irresponsible attitude towards water. Despite the fact that we are still witnessing attempts by capital to dominate the environment, a systemic approach to tackling this problem is improving in developed countries, in which the role of the individual is not negligible.

The importance of water in agriculture and food production

Agriculture can cause water pollution, mainly through the improper or excessive use of organic and mineral fertilisers and plant protection products. Therefore, one of the strategic orientations for the development of Slovenian agriculture is to reduce its negative impacts on natural resources, in particular drinking water sources. Agricultural policy measures also support agriculture in its environmental function. They promote above-standard sustainable agricultural practices aimed at proper water and soil management, biodiversity and landscape conservation, as well as mitigation of climate change and adaptation of farming to climate change. These payments "reward" the farmer as a custodian of the environment, whose activities, in addition to food production, protect water and soil, and preserve nature.

Climate change means adapting to new facts. One of the sectors most affected by climate change is agriculture. Rising temperatures, extreme weather events, and different rainfall patterns are posing new challenges to food production. The response to this is the introduction of new types of crops into agricultural production and the irrigation of farmland. Slovenia has a lot of experience in irrigating farmland. Today and in the near future, irrigation will become essential to ensure stable crop production as well as high-quality crops. For the construction of new irrigation systems and their placement in the environment, inter-ministerial cooperation (especially in the fields of water, agriculture and nature) is crucial. Slovenia is a water-rich country. Water and soil are its assets, and the link between them is in the irrigation of farmland.

As we can see, there is no agricultural production without water, whether we grow food outdoors or in greenhouses, in soil or in substrates. In agriculture and food production/processing, we are very aware of the importance of water and the costs involved, which is why we encourage agricultural practices and methods of food production and processing that make the most rational use of water. Therefore, under the selection criteria for applications, priority is given to investment projects that:

• ensure that water consumption per kg of crop is kept to a minimum (e.g. food production in greenhouses),
• maximise water savings in case of outdoor irrigation,
• introduce drip irrigation systems,
• introduce technologies that allow water to be reused in the technological process (warehouses, preparation of goods for the market, processing plants),
• are earmarked for the construction of stormwater storage facilities,
• enable a circular economy in food production and fish farming (e. g. aquaponics),
• contribute to the reuse of waste and by-products.

It is also an often-overlooked fact that water is one of the basic ingredients of foodstuffs in the food industry. It is a constituent of many food products and as such must be clean and safe. In good hygiene practice, only potable water - even when steamed - should be used for cleaning all objects and surfaces that come into contact with foodstuffs. Food business operators should also pay particular attention to the preparation of ice intended to be added to beverages and other foodstuffs.

But it is also crucial for consumers to realise that water was also needed for discarded food or food that is thrown in the garbage. Responsible consumption and handling of food are therefore important elements of sustainable food production and consumption, and consequently of clean (drinking) water consumption.

The importance of forests for water

The strategic and operational documents governing forest management and forestry practice also take into account the importance and role of water for the state of the environment and the supply of clean drinking water. Forests are an ecosystem that contributes significantly to maintaining good groundwater and surface water status. Stable and healthy forests can retain and gradually release water. This means that, in the face of climate change and extreme weather events, they are irreplaceable for balancing the water regime without extreme water flows, reducing the risk of flood. In areas facing water scarcity, forest management should be coordinated with water management objectives. Forests are important for maintaining the natural balance of aquatic and riparian ecosystems. Forestry, therefore, works with stakeholders in water management and nature conservation in an interdisciplinary planning process to establish and maintain riparian vegetation. The role of forests in providing drinking water is most threatened or diminished by the many wild garbage dumps.

The importance of water for fisheries and aquaculture

Water covers more than 70% of the Earth's surface, and is also present in the atmosphere, in the soil and underground. Water is where the first organic molecules were formed 4 billion years ago, from which living beings evolved in the course of evolution. Even today, living beings can be found practically everywhere water is present. There are more than 20,000 known species of fish alone. Access to water has become so commonplace that we only realise its importance when it is scarce.

Commercial and sport fishing is carried out at sea, where many other activities take place; transport, (nautical) tourism, etc. A maritime spatial plan, as a collection of information on all activities at sea, is therefore particularly important. In the next financial framework, the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund will allocate quite a lot of funds to improving the state of the sea: to achieve the objectives of the common fisheries policy, to improve marine data and its management, and to improve marine biodiversity. Aquaculture depends on both the sea and inland waters. Shellfish farming is important from an environmental point of view, as shellfish filter water and can contribute to reducing CO2 in the sea. However, aquaculture taking place in inland waters is increasingly dependent on inland water flows. As dry seasons are getting longer, more and more attention is being paid to the introduction of new technologies that require less water intake and to different ways of improving the oxygen content of the waters used in aquaculture.

Fisheries and aquaculture are of course inextricably linked to water, but clean water is especially important for both activities. Water is the best solvent, and even substances that are toxic to aquatic organisms are soluble in it. Most of the responsibility for this lies with man's activities and, above all, his irresponsible attitude towards water. Despite the fact that we are still witnessing attempts by capital to dominate the environment, a systemic approach to tackling this problem is improving in developed countries, in which the role of the individual is not negligible.