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The virtual water strategy (VWS) is an effective tool to balance regional water resource endowments and guarantee water supply security. However, because of self‐interested games around VWS (human decision bias), there is a need for methods to maintain reliable cooperation between governments, virtual water (VW) enterprises and research institutions. This study builds a multi‐agent evolutionary game model to analyse the relationship of players and their impacts on VWS through changing decision mechanisms and the paths to enhance their confidence in cooperation. Considering differences in initial willingness to cooperate and changing factors affecting payoffs, an evolutionary game can produce changing stable equilibriums or stable cooperations, even if some players are reluctant to cooperate. Therefore, to promote the development of VWS, a multistep support mechanism can be built for the VW industry, which fosters model enterprises and optimizes the cooperation framework to stimulate research innovations at scientific institutions. Highlights: Traditional virtual water strategy (VWS) studies ignored the specific implementation and stakeholder game issues.A multi‐agent evolutionary game model is built to analyse the stable states and decision mechanisms for VWS.The payoffs of each game player will affect its strategy choice and the speed of model evolution.It is clearly possible for the stakeholders to form a stable equilibrium of long‐term cooperation around the VWS.Changing the factors of one game player may indirectly lead to changes in the strategies of other players. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The scarcity of global water resources has been exacerbated by a variety of factors, including population growth, the impacts of climate change, and mismanagement. Policymakers face a challenge in managing tradeoffs between human water demands and maintaining the world's water resources. This study investigates water resource management strategies using Iran's example, a country in the Middle East with arid and semi-arid climate. A review of water resources management strategies in Iran shows the country's policies leaned more on short-term solutions. Short-term water management addresses immediate shortages and emergencies, implemented during droughts and water scarcity, while long-term strategies reduce water demand by addressing underlying drivers and involve significant investments and planning horizons. Iran has focused on implementing short-term solutions to address the effects of water scarcity on food and water security. This work shows that short-sighted water policies such as the large-scale use of water resources and water transfers may cause adverse impacts, among those land subsidence due to groundwater withdrawal and environmental degradation. It is worth noting that such short sighted water policies do not constitute sustainable solutions to water scarcity. On the other hand, water policies that seek long-term sustainability are frequently ignored by policymakers. The latter water policies are herein evaluated for the purpose of increasing water supply. Strategies such as improving water consumption patterns and setting reasonable water pricing can contribute to remedy the water crises in arid countries like Iran. An overview of case studies is presented and assessed to illustrate the effectiveness of long-term, sustainable, water supply policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"Invulnerability" of complex network was firstly introduced to virtual water (VW) research, aiming to broaden the scope of studies on water use and management. Beginning with the construction of China's virtual water trade networks (VWTNs) of major grain crops, Node Degree (K) and Betweenness Centrality (B) are employed to evaluate and rank the importance of China's 31 regions. Regions with high values for both indicators are identified as playing pivotal roles in the VWTNs: Jiangsu (ranking 1st for both K and B), Hubei (2nd for K, 3rd for B), Henan (3rd for K, 6th for B), Hebei (4th for K, 4th for B), Hunan (4th for K, 5th for B). Using this ranking to simulate the invulnerability of VWTNs under random and intentional attacks. The results reveal a rapid decrease in both Network Efficiency (E) and Maximum Connectivity (C) under intentional attack. In comparison to seven random attacks, E falls below 0.1 and C drops below 0.5 after only three intentional attacks, and the network completely collapsed after 10 intentional attacks. This highlights the VWTN's vulnerability in maintaining food supply and agricultural water security when key regions are subjected to man‐made destruction, such as military blockades or occupations. Future work should include integrating climate change models, crops yield models, and water resource allocation models to protect the key areas. Furthermore, interdisciplinary approaches are crucial for overcoming the limitations of VW research and these findings will provide valuable insights to enhance the optimal regulation of VWTNs. Key Points: "Invulnerability" was novelly introduced to the virtual water trade networks (VWTNs) to simulate its destruction resistanceNetwork efficiency and maximum connectivity of VWTNs decreased rapidly under intentional attacksWhen key regions subjected to man‐made attacks, China's VWTNs is unable to maintain food supply and agricultural water security [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we examined the impact of climate change on the virtual water content of key crops in Kerman province for future periods. Specifically, we utilized the climatic data from the HadCM3 model under the RCP4.5 radiative forcing scenario. The model was calibrated and validated for the base period of 1991 -2011. We predicted the precipitation levels, as well as the maximum and minimum temperatures, for selected stations from 2011 to 2070 using data from LARS -WG. These predictions were then compared to the base period. The virtual water content was calculated for three selected crops: alfalfa, barley, and wheat. Our findings indicate that climate change has a significant impact on evapotranspiration and the performance of these crops, consequently affecting future agricultural water productivity. As we project an increase in average temperature during the growing season due to climate change, it is worth noting that the maximum temperature parameter will be more affected by this phenomenon than the minimum temperature. This, in turn, will lead to increased water requirements and plant evaporation - transpiration during this period. Our research also reveals a decrease in precipitation during hot seasons and an increase during cold seasons across all study stations. Notably, the virtual water content for all crops studied demonstrates an upward trend, with barley and wheat showing the greatest average increase in the future period. Specifically, the Kerman station exhibits a substantial increase in virtual water content for barley and alfalfa products, at a minimum of 30% higher than the base period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural water productivity is crucial for sustainability amidst the escalating demand for food. Cereals are pivotal in providing nutritious food at affordable prices. This study was based on Ghanaian data spanning from 1992 to 2021 to evaluate water usage in the cultivation of major cereals. It also examined the virtual water losses or gains in cereal trade alongside influencing factors. The analysis utilized secondary data encompassing the virtual water content, production quantity, export and import quantities, distance, GDP per capita, population, and land per capita of Ghana and its 75 trade partners. In the last 5 years, crop water use (CWU) reached an average of 7.08 billion m3/yr for maize, 3.48 billion m3/yr for rice, 1.08 billion m3/yr for sorghum, and 0.63 billion m3/yr for millet production. Ghana's major partners for exported virtual water (EVW) were Niger, Burkina Faso, South Africa, and Togo. Major partners for imported virtual water (IVW) were Argentina, South Africa, Ukraine, Togo, Russia, Burkina Faso, Canada, Senegal, Nigeria, Portugal, UK, Niger, and the USA. The Panel Least Squares Method of regression was used to apply the Gravity Model principle in assessing influencing factors. The findings indicate that Ghana is a net importer of virtual water in the cereal trade, with significant influences from geographical distance, GDP per capita, population, land per capita, and cereal water use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Incorporating water footprints and virtual water into crop redistribution provides a new approach for efficient water resources utilization and synergistic development of water surplus and scarce regions. In this work, the absolute and comparative advantage of the production‐based blue and gray water footprint (PWFblue and PWFgray), the calorie‐based blue water footprint (CWFblue) and the net benefit‐based blue water footprint (NBWFblue) were used as coefficients to establish a bi‐level crop redistribution model. The mode considers upper‐level decision makers interested in maximizing food security and ecological security and lower‐level decision makers interested in water use efficiency, water use benefits and net benefits. The model was applied in the Hetao Irrigation District (HID), China. The results showed that after optimization, the PWFblue, CWFblue, NBWFblue, and gray water footprint (GWF) of the HID were reduced by 23.32%, 5.60%, 17.40%, and 6.67%, respectively. National benefits were improved, especially when considering synergistic optimization, although the net benefits of HID was affected. The calorie supply increased by 9.6 × 109 kcal, the GWF decreased by 8.29 × 106 m3, and water use efficiency and benefits were improved in China. In contrast, the calorie supply and the net benefits of the HID decreased, while the GWF increased. Moreover, multiple stakeholders were involved in crop redistribution and required national synergies. The bi‐level model proved more suitable than the multi‐objective model. The model proposed in this work considers synergies outside the region in crop redistribution within the region, and can provide new insight for water and soil resources management in arid and semi‐arid regions. Key Points: Virtual water flow embedded in optimization model reflecting comparative advantageAbsolute advantage and comparative advantage synergize interregional interestsBi‐level optimization model trade‐offs regional authority and sub‐regions [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Civil infrastructure underpins urban receipts of food, energy, and water (FEW) produced in distant watersheds. In this study, we map flows of FEW goods from watersheds of the contiguous United States to major population centers and highlight the critical infrastructure that supports FEW flows. To do this, we draw upon detailed records of agriculture, electricity, and public water supply production and couple them with commodity flow and infrastructure information. We also compare the flows of virtual water embedded in food and energy commodity flows with physical water flows in inter‐basin water transfer projects around the country. We found that the virtual blue water transfers through crops and electricity to major US cities was 53 billion and 8 billion m3 in 2017, respectively, while physical interbasin water transfers for crops, electricity, and public supply water averaged 20.8 billion m3. Highways are the primary infrastructure used to import virtual water associated with food and fuel into cities, although waterways and railways are most utilized for long‐distance transport. All of the 204 watersheds in the contiguous US support the food, energy, and/or water supplies of major US cities, with dependencies stretching far beyond each city's borders. Still, most cities source the majority of their FEW and embedded water resources from nearby watersheds. Infrastructure such as water supply dams and inland ports serve as important buffers for both local and supply‐chain sourced water stress. These findings can inform efforts to reduce water resources and infrastructure risks in domestic supply chains. Key Points: Civil infrastructure enables US cities to access FEW resources from distant watershedsMost cities depend on nearby watersheds for FEW and embedded waterVirtual water transfers through food and energy exceed physical water transfers [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interprovincial circulation of goods and services has formed virtual water flows between regions, which can redistribute water resources. Based on previous virtual water trade research, this study further explored the multiple dependencies of virtual water, i.e., direct, indirect, and complete dependence. This study examined the direct, indirect, and complete dependence of virtual water between provinces in China by constructing multilayer dependence networks and identified the key regions and paths of virtual water trade network. The results showed direct dependence was the densest and had the largest overall dependence degree, but indirect dependence was the most stable and orderly. Second, the dominant provinces were Guangxi, Hunan, Sichuan, Xinjiang, and Anhui, referred to as "core‒five‒region," and the flow relevant to them accounted for approximately 30% of the virtual water. The seven provinces of Shanxi, Zhejiang, Shandong, Hubei, Guangdong, Shaanxi, and Gansu depend both directly and indirectly on the "core‒five‒region." Shanxi and Zhejiang have close direct and indirect dependence, with more than one of the "core‒five‒region." Guangdong was the province with the most direct and indirect input of virtual water from the "core‒five‒region." The study provides a scientific basis for multiregional identification for the collaborative management of water resources in China from the perspective of dependence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the need for water use to be a crucial consideration in sustainable development, an adequate water allocation system across economic sectors is essential, especially in the face of increasing seasonal and perennial water scarcity. In an attempt to facilitate a socially and economically efficient adaptation to the climate emergency, we propose a set of eleven socio-economic indicators to analyze the current water management. This set of indicators could help to quantify the interrelationship between water use and its economic perspective, as well as its social perspective through its impact on employment. Any demand for water not only includes the direct use of water but also its indirect use, referred to as virtual water. This is the water indirectly used through the other inputs in the production process (input–output methodology). These indicators are evaluated in the South-West Europe territory where, in light of increasing water scarcity, there is a need to orientate water allocation toward employment with less intensive water use, to more water productivity and to less environmental impacts. The results at river basin scales show that water use is more productive in the tertiary than in the secondary and primary sectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In response to the growing disparity between the supply and demand of water resources, the Chinese government has piloted a more binding and reformed water resources tax to realize the sustainable utilization of water resources. However, reasonable tax standards and their water-saving effects and economic benefits are important and worthy of attention. Therefore, in this study, we combine the virtual water theory with the price input–output model to discuss the impact of water resources taxation on the economy and its water-saving effects. The results show the following: (1) A water resources tax has a significant water-saving effect, and is predicted to save 33.12 billion cubic meters of virtual water. (2) Consumers' expected reductions in spending on food and tobacco manufacturing and agriculture are predicted to save more virtual water at a lower economic cost. (3) The collection of water resources taxes can actively and simultaneously guide water savings in terms of consumption and production. The water consumption of the construction industry is worthy of attention. The expected output value reduction accounts for 67.2% of the total output value reduction, and its water savings account for 96% of the total water savings. Other service sectors also have ample room to optimize the utilization of their water resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Latinoamericana de Estudios Rurales is the property of ALASRU / CEIL-CONICET and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Science Technology & Engineering is the property of Chinese Society of Technology Economics and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This study utilizes a system dynamics approach (SD) to assess the effects of water productivity improvement strategies on the Qazvin plain, Iran, and the uncertainty of the individual and interactive effects. The key indicators included in the important strategies are cropping pattern scenarios (CPS), deficit irrigation (DI), and modern irrigation systems development (MISD). Plain-scale results show that CPS 7, CPS 4, and CPS 8 had the highest physical water productivity (WPp) at 2.11, 1.99, and 1.95 kg/m3, respectively, representing a 21, 14, and 12 percent increase over CPS 1. Compared with CPS 1, CPS 4, CPS 6, and CPS 8 showed the highest values of WPe (5678, 5568, and 5503 Rials/m3, respectively). At the field scale, under DI, WPp increased for all crops (except corn, which was the most sensitive), but WPe is only increased for tomato, canola, pea, and barley and reduced for corn, potato, beans, lentils, and sugar beet. The WPe was affected by the DI, the irrigation system type, and the CPS. CPS 7 and CPS 6 had the highest and lowest water requirements, respectively, with 11,699 and 8207 m3/ha. Volume decline in aquifers is significantly affected by both CPS and DI. The CPS6, CPS8, and CPS2 were better than other scenarios. By modifying the cropping pattern, it is possible to prevent aquifer decline, thus improving the aquifer status (CPS5). MISD increased both field and plain WPp for all crops. The MISD improved groundwater resources and reduced demand by increasing efficiency to improve aquifer condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The escalating challenges regarding the sustainable utilization of coupled energy and water resources require the implementation of synergistic management. Electricity-related virtual water flows could result in the transfer of freshwater vulnerability and environmental inequalities. Aiming to systematically characterize its holistic patterns, network structure and formation mechanisms, we constructed a virtual water network for electricity trade in China based on provincial lifecycle water footprints; portrayed the statistical features, structural stability and interregional equilibrium using Complex Network Analysis (CNA); and introduced the Quadratic Assignment Procedure (QAP) to gain socio-environmental insights into the driving factors. The results show that the virtual water transferred with China's interprovincial electricity trade increased from 851.24 million m3 to 3441.58 million m3 from 2006–2020. Eastern, developed provinces with a high electricity demand have effectively relieved their water stress by expanding import sources, but the transfer of water resource benefits from western exporting regions (especially in the arid northern provinces) is irreversible. The current electricity market forces reflect the scarcity of energy and capital factors in the context of China's interprovincial trade, but not the scarcity of water resources. Consequently, we proposed integrated management strategies including strengthening sectoral collaboration, optimizing energy-use structures and establishing ecological compensation mechanisms to build a more water-efficient future power system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional methods of irrigation and resource utilization lack an organized strategy for managing water resources. There are often inefficiencies in the way irrigation water is used in fields and plains, leading to irrigation waste and inefficient water utilization. Considering the size and dispersion of the land, the variety of crops, the time and location at which they are planted, and the distance between the source of water and the point where it is consumed, irrigation and drainage networks are essential for the best management of water resources. Therefore, in the present study, we have attempted to optimize the use of water in the agricultural sector by taking into account both the virtual water of plant cultivation and growth as well as the environmental conditions relevant to it, both geographically and temporally. Based on the calculations presented in this research and comparisons with the existing traditional method, the amount of water consumed in agriculture in the study area, which is part of Isfahan Province's southern part in the Gavkhoni lagoon, is estimated to be approximately 70 percent reduced if the solution presented in this study is implemented. It would be equivalent to using about 30% of the amount of water currently consumed and something equivalent to about 300 thousand cubic meters of water consumption reduction, which is a significant amount. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective This paper aims to assess the indirect influence of virtual water flow on metropolitan-scale agricultural water stress in Sichuan province. It investigates the spatiotemporal variation in this context, elucidating how persistent growth in agricultural water use and the movement of virtual water through agricultural products across the province indirectly impacts regional water stress. Method The AquaCrop model was employed to calculate the water footprint of 16 different crops from 2000 to 2018 in all metropolitan cities within the province. The calculation of inter-province virtual water flow was based on annual balance between crop production and food demand, by considering the minimum transportation costs cross the province. These calculated results were then used to analyze the influence of virtual water flow on agricultural water stress. Result From 2000 to 2018, the average water footprint of crop production in Sichuan was estimated to be 28.4 billion cubic meters per year. The total water footprint of crop production in the province exhibited a fluctuation during the studied period, with the most notable change observed in Leshan. The province experienced a net increase in virtual water inflow, with the Western areas receiving more inflow than the Eastern regions. The continuous influx of virtual water has contributed to the alleviation of agricultural water stress in the province, reducing the number of cities experiencing increased water stress due to virtual water outflows from four in 2000 to one in 2018. Conclusion The analysis of physical and virtual water highlights the need for Sichuan province to enhance the regulation and optimization of virtual water trade as a means to mitigate agricultural water stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the water requirement of electricity generation is critical to the development of both electricity and water systems, while the water consumption of the whole electric power system remains unrevealed. Here, we examine the water consumption driven by electricity generation, transmission, and consumption in China, finding that 14 billion m3 of freshwater is consumed by electricity generation in 2019 and that 2.5 billion m3 of freshwater was virtually transferred via electricity transmission. Nationally, the freshwater consumption per unit of electricity generation was 1.9 m3/MWh. Based on the state-of-the-art electricity transmission data, we find that 59% of the transported electric power was from water-scarce provinces and 0.7 billion m3 of freshwater was lost due to the electricity loss in transmission lines in China. It is essential to link water resources with the whole electric power system (production, transmission, and consumption) rather than only part of the power system as in previous research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Yellow River is the property of Editorial Board of Yellow River and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Virtual water exerts an indispensable influence on water resources, yet the existing studies on the water rights allocation of transboundary rivers hardly consider virtual water transfer (VWT). Therefore, in this paper, we used Taihu Lake as an example with data collected in 2017 that described both physical and virtual water use. We used these data to evaluate water rights allocation schemes by coupling virtual and physical water use. In order to achieve this goal, we first determined the physical water rights allocated for the four regions connected to the Basin. Next, we employed the multi-regional input–output (MRIO) approach to calculate the VWT among the four regions; then, we converted the VWT to the riparian level via the water efficiency coefficient. Finally, with virtual water included in the physical water rights allocation, we formulated a final water rights allocation for Taihu Lake. The results showed the following findings: (1) The ranking of the amount of physical water rights allocation is: Jiangsu > Zhejiang > Shanghai > Anhui. (2) Anhui and Jiangsu produce a net export of virtual water (2.259 billion m3 and 1.78 billion m3, respectively), while Zhejiang and Shanghai have a net import of virtual water (2.344 billion m3 and 1.695 billion m3, respectively), indicating that Anhui houses more water-consuming industries and is in greater need of economic restructuring. (3) The integration of virtual water makes a difference: Jiangsu achieved 16.208 billion m3 in terms of the amount of water rights allocated, Zhejiang achieved 6.606 billion m3, Shanghai achieved 3.040 billion m3, and Anhui achieved 4.319 billion m3, with a ranking of Jiangsu > Zhejiang > Anhui > Shanghai. The results detailed above prove that virtual water exerts an indispensable influence, and integrating virtual water can make the physical water rights allocation of transboundary rivers more equal and reasonable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China is facing serious water scarcity, and the effects of international trade on its water resources have been widely examined. Processing exports account for nearly half of China's gross exports. Adopting China's multi-regional input–output table that captures processing exports, we enrich the literature on virtual water exports by accounting for trade heterogeneity. The results show that China's virtual water exports show a significant trade heterogeneity. Normal and processing exports are attributed to 86.7% and 13.3% of the Agriculture sector's water use induced by exports respectively. Conversely, normal and processing exports are attributed to 31.8% and 68.3% of the Communications Equipment, Computers sector's water use induced by exports respectively. In addition, a cross-regional compensation is needed to deal with the unequal regional distribution of water uses and economic benefits related to exports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural trade, which involves the exchange of virtual water and land resources, can effectively regulate the allocation of resources among countries while enhancing the well-being of resource-rich and resource-poor nations. China's animal products trade market concentration is greater, and the livestock industry consumes more water than other agricultural sectors. In order to alleviate the pressure on China's domestic water and land resources and to ensure that Chinese residents have access to animal products, this article examines the trade situation and drivers of virtual water and land resources related to Chinese animal products trade. This study used the heat equivalent method to measure the virtual water and land flows of the import and export of beef, pork, and mutton from 1992 to 2018, which is followed by the gravity model to investigate the factors impacting China's flow of virtual land and water related to livestock products trade. We found that the economic development and the agricultural resources of exporters, as well as China's agricultural employment rates, have a stable beneficial impact on China's livestock imports. The population of importing nations, China's cultivated land area, and the livestock production index of importers and exporters have a positive impact on the export of livestock products from China. Our results remain robust following a series of additional tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Water Conservancy Science & Techonlogy & Economy is the property of Water Conservancy Science & Technology & Economy Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Virtual water exerts an essential effect on water resources, yet such effect is rarely considered in current studies on water rights allocation in transboundary rivers. Hence, this paper ran a case study on Taihu Lake Basin, collecting data from 2017 to make clear the physical water rights of four regions—Jiangsu Province, Zhejiang Province, Anhui Province, and Shanghai City—in the Basin. After that, the multiregional input–output (MRIO) approach was utilized to measure the trade in value-added (TiVA) transfer and virtual water transfer (VWT) and construct an inequality index of VWT (VWI). Next, water efficiency coefficient was employed to convert the VWT into riparian level. Finally, VWT and VWI were incorporated into the water rights allocation model to form up a water rights allocation scheme for Taihu Lake Basin. Results showed: (1) Jiangsu enjoys the most allocated physical water rights, followed by Zhejiang, and Anhui ranks the lowest; (2) Anhui and Jiangsu are net virtual water exporters (2.259 billion m3 and 1.78 billion m3, respectively), while Zhejiang and Shanghai are net importers (2.344 billion m3 and 1.695 billion m3, respectively); (3) Anhui suffers the most inequality—0.4401—followed by 0.5076 of Jiangsu, while Zhejiang has the most equal environment—0.7012; (4) after the inclusion of virtual water, the quantity of water rights allocation changes, whereas Anhui experiences the largest growth—144 million m3—due to the dual effects from the highest VWT and inequality. In conclusion, the effect of virtual water is indispensable, so VWT and VWI should both be considered in the physical water rights allocation of transboundary rivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is necessary to use the correct methods of water economic valuation. Proper use of the virtual water concept and the crop pattern can play a significant role in increasing water productivity and sustainable development. In this paper, the economic value of agricultural water, once without considering virtual water and once again with virtual water for four crops including wheat, barley, alfalfa and fodder maize was calculated, using a native-exclusive mathematical model, in Isfahan province, counties of Shahinshahr-Meymeh and Borkhar, Iran. Three weighting methods based on cultivated area, volume of net water consumption and product income were considered for water valuation. The input data for the mathematical model includes crop parameters, meteorological data, the amount of water consumed for each plant and the amount of expenses and incomes from each product for the crop year 2020-2021. The obtained results showed that by all the three weighting methods and in the both studied areas, the economic value of agricultural water increased by considering the virtual water of crops and changing the crop pattern accordingly; the water economic value by three weighting methods based on cultivated area, the amount of water consumed, and crop income increased by 22%, 44%, and 23% in Shahinshahr-Meymeh county and by 17%, 15%, and 15% in Borkhar county, respectively. This research showed that considering virtual water and changing the crop pattern accordingly can increase the economic value of water, reduce water consumption and help achieve sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Kirkuk University for Agricultural Sciences is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Because of severe water scarcity, it is crucial to quantify water use in China's water-scarce regions and to analyze the factors driving its use. In this paper, we analyze the driving factors behind the water footprint from 2007 to 2017 in the mildly water-scarce region of Anhui Province, using regional input–output models and structural decomposition analysis. The results show the following: (1) Although the average virtual water intensity of Anhui Province decreased by 52.58% from 2007 to 2017, the water-use efficiency was still low; (2) During the study period, the total water footprint of Anhui Province increased by 25.06%, with an obvious upward trend; (3) From 2012 to 2017, the net export volume of virtual water in Anhui Province was positive, and the flow volume decreased by 78.87%; (4) Technological progress contributed the most to reducing the water footprint of Anhui Province, followed by the increased counter-urbanization rate as the second-largest driving force. The expansion of the scale effect, including the size of the economy and the size of the population, was the main negative driving force for the increase in Anhui's water footprint. However, the proportion of economic scale in the water footprint drivers gradually decreased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a water-scarce country and the world's largest trader of industrial products, China's industrial virtual water (VW) flow may exacerbate its water scarcity problem. Thus, industrial VW flows' spatial and temporal evolution in international trade should be analyzed, and influencing factors must be identified. This study developed the multiregional input–output (MRIO) model, combined with the Leontief inverse matrix, to measure and decompose the industrial VW flows between China and other economies from 2000 to 2014. This extended MRIO model considers intermediate production water consumption and indirect water use, which technically distinguishes the sources of pressure on water use more accurately, thus enabling a new elaboration of the composition of China's industrial water use. Then, the evolution of China's industrial VW trade is analyzed spatiotemporally, and the structural decomposition analysis (SDA) method is invoked to identify the endogenous drivers further. The results indicate the following. (1) China was a net exporter of industrial VW trade. The main VW export sectors in China were the manufacture of textiles and wearing apparel, paper products, and chemical products, which had the characteristics of high water consumption, high pollution, and low added value, respectively. (2) The net exports of industrial VW from China mainly went to the US, EU, ROW (rest of the world), and Japan. China's VW exports to the US and Japan are declining, while exports to the EU and Russia are increasing. (3) The decrease in the water-use coefficient in all industrial sectors in China was the most critical reason for inhibiting the increase in the country's industrial VW exports. The export structure effect of intermediate products, product structure effect of foreign final demand, and scale effect of foreign final demand were the primary reasons for the rise in VW exports, but all gradually diminished. Moreover, the structural effects of China on the use of domestic intermediate products had a significant positive effect on the increase in VW exports. In contrast, those of foreign products had an extremely weak effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To achieve food security goals, water accounting seems to be one of the most powerful tools to deal with water scarcity management. Thus, indicators, such as virtual water and water productivity, can be considered complementary rather than competing indicators to assess water demand efficiency use. Water computation is, therefore, a crucial tool to understand the overall tendency of water consumption and to assist the decision makers in their decisional process about water efficiency use in different phases of production. In this perspective, this paper aims to evaluate water use throughout the value chain of the olive oil sector, which is the first strategic agro-industrial sector in Tunisia. This evaluation will be undertaken while taking into account various crucial issues concerning the main two production phases in terms of the importance of water consumption (agriculture and processing phase). In the agriculture phase, the rainfed and irrigated modes will be compared, and in the processing phase, three different processing systems will be evaluated. Thirty surveys with farmers and nine surveys with olive oil mill owners were undertaken in the arid region of Sfax: one of the most important olive oil producers in Tunisia. The results show the importance of the theoretical framework adopted in clarifying the state of water consumption in a strategic sector, such as the Tunisian olive oil sector. In addition, the different calculated indicators highlight the importance of the application of a whole technical package and a controlled and efficient use of water to improve the economic profitability and the necessity to revise the irrigated olive growing extensions' policies under arid conditions. In addition, in the processing phase, the continuous-two phase system is emphasized as the most relevant system in terms of water efficiency use. This system is proposed to be encouraged by policy makers in future olive mill installations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The efficient and optimal management of water resources is of great importance due to the strong dependence of human life on water. Also, the availability and utilization of the existing water resources in regions with water shortages, such as the Middle East, impose high social, economic, and environmental costs. Therefore, water resource management policies should incorporate all aspects of supply, allocation, control, and monitoring of resources. This study provides a dynamic simulation model for water resource management in the Yazd province of Iran to examine the effect of different policies on the other variables and choose the most suitable policies over time. For this purpose, we used a system dynamics approach to propose an integrated water resources management model, considering a comprehensive view of different aspects. The proposed model included over 230 influential variables in water resources, along with economic, demographic, technological, agricultural, industrial, public policy-making, water demand-supply, and virtual water volume subsystems. After we validate the model, we define three scenarios (optimistic, baseline, and pessimistic) and four policy packages (i.e., business as usual, focusing on economic development, focusing on sustainable development based on ecological balance, and focusing on water conservation) in the time horizons of 10, 20, and 50 years. The simulation results indicated that we require a reform in the Yazd economic development strategies through policies such as changing the cropping pattern and reducing water-consuming industries. Moreover, water supply enhancement by raising the inter-basin transfer of water alone cannot be an effective solution for reducing the water shortage in Yazd province and may even worsen the water shortage in the long run. We conclude that the "Focus on Water Conservation" policy is the best solution to reduce water shortage. The results of the baseline scenario show that adopting the FWC policy changes the increasing trend of water shortage in the province and decreases them from more than 53 billion m3 in the "Business as Usual" policy to less than 20 billion m3 in the year 2040. As the FWC would decrease more than 10 billion m3 of the virtual water level imbalance compared to BAU policy and make more investments in water efficiency plans, it preserves the current resources of water in the long run. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction The increase in demand for water resources due to population growth and economic development along with water wastage and a decrease in rainfall, on the other hand, has made it significant to pay attention to water demand and make sound policies. Our country is facing the risk of a water crisis in the coming years, mainly due to its location in a dry and semi-arid climate, as well as the ever-increasing growth of water consumption. To alleviate the water crisis, international trade in agricultural products can play a significant role in redistributing water resources because traded goods contain a large amount of virtual water. Water restriction in Iran is an undeniable fact, for this purpose, trading based on virtual water can be a solution to reduce the effects of water restriction. Due to being located in a dry and semi-arid climate, Iran is facing the risk of a water crisis in the coming years. Therefore, in order to deal with it, it is necessary to be more sensitive to the types of water consumption. Among these uses is virtual water. The water used in the production process of goods is called virtual water, a part of which is kept in the product. Virtual water trade occurs when goods are imported into global markets. Virtual water trading is expected to reduce water consumption at the national and international levels due to more efficient and specialized use of water. Today, the concept of virtual water is one of the most critical issues in water resources management. Today, the problem of water shortage has become a serious concern due to climate changes and uneven distribution of rainfall in most regions and countries, including Iran, and is considered the most important obstacle to the economic development of these countries. Trade as a tool to prevent the unnecessary withdrawal of water resources, focusing on the strategy of virtual water trade, can play an essential role in achieving the economic development of countries. Materials and Methods The study area of the research is the Shiblo-Poldasht plain in the northwest of Iran. This area is located in the east of the Poldasht study area and in the north of the Qara Ziauddin study area. The aim of this research was to investigate the statistical status of the cultivated area, the production performance, and the evaluation of the productivity and virtual water of agricultural crops in the Poldasht plain. The time frame of the research is from 2011 to 2021 in an 11-years period. Accurate calculation and determination of water requirement (m3 ha-1 ). The amount of water required by a plant for its proper growth, taking into account the loss of evaporation and transpiration of the plant, is called the water requirement of the plant. Therefore, the water requirement of the plant depends on the amount of evaporation and transpiration of the plant. It is worth noting that due to different climates and weather conditions, plant growth conditions and as a result, the amount of water needed by plants are also different. In the present research, the various productivity indicators and virtual water of the crops of Dasht-Poldasht have been examined. Moreover, according to the objectives of the research, the physical and financial indicators of water productivity, including the performance index per unit of water volume (CDP), income per unit of water volume (BPD), and net return per unit of water volume (NBPD) have been calculated. Results and Discussion In this research, the amount of virtual water and the productivity index as well as the net and gross economic value of the major crops grown in Poldasht city in West Azarbaijan province were investigated. In this regard, first, data and information related to crops were collected through relevant organizations and institutions, and NETWAT, CROPWAT, and CLIMWAT programs and Excel programs were used to draw graphs and graphical results. Then the yield of crops was calculated by dividing the amount of crops produced by the area of planting crops and the productivity index and virtual water. The results of this research show that the watermelon crop with a harvesting area of 5789 ha and a production rate of 237951000 kg and a production yield of 41103.99 kg ha-1 with a water requirement of 2760 m3 ha-1 has a productivity of 14.89 kg m-3 and has The highest level of productivity is also the results show that the alfalfa product is the lowest level of productivity. It is worth noting that despite the fact that the watermelon product has high production and productivity at a very low harvest level, it is also a very water-loving product that has a relatively high water requirement, and generally experts are looking for an alternative product due to the lack of water resources. Finally, it is suggested that traditional (submerged) irrigation methods should be replaced by modern pressurized irrigation methods so that in addition to increasing efficiency and productivity, we can see a reduction in water consumption and its wastage. It is also suggested that the water requirements of agricultural crops be compared with each other using the data of the Agricultural Jihad Organization and the aforementioned programs, and its effect on the amount of water consumed and its savings, as well as the net and gross values of the production of crops, and the final results It is compared with the national water document to fully verify the amount of water needed. Conclusion Despite the fact that the watermelon product has high production and productivity at a very low harvest level, it is also a very water consuming product possessing a relatively high water requirement, and generally experts are looking for an alternative product, due to the lack of water resources. Finally, it is suggested that traditional flood irrigation methods should be replaced by modern pressurized irrigation methods, so that in addition to increasing efficiency and productivity, we can encounter with a reduction in water consumption and its wastage. It is also suggested that the water requirement of agricultural crops should be compared with each other using the data of the Agricultural Jihad Organization and the aforementioned programs, and its effect on the amount of water consumed and its saving, as well as the net and gross values of crop production, should be evaluated. Finally, the results have been compared with the national water document so that the amount of water needed can be fully verified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The object of this study is the process that forms conceptual foundations for managing the impact of virtual water deficiency risks on the global food crisis. The main idea of the study focuses on determining the consequences of the global food crisis in the world under the influence of a significant reduction in virtual water exports from Ukraine to agri-food markets. It is determined that most likely, in the context of the replacement of Ukrainian exports of grain and agricultural products as a result of Russian aggression in Ukraine, the countries of the world will resort to new ways of obtaining effective imports of virtual water from other countries. The study proved that rapid structural changes in the economies of the countries of the world and the reorientation of their national economies towards the development of the agricultural sector under modern conditions of global uncertainty would inevitably lead to certain consequences. Namely, either to the fall in the growth rate of national economies, or to the state of the “bifurcation explosion” with the subsequent dispersion of possible states of development. The proposed scientific and methodological approach to assessing the sustainability of the systemic development of the territory over time for water-intensive regions makes it possible to take calculated decisions at the national level regarding the scale and prospects for the development of economic activities in the state. The described theoretical and methodological foundations of the interdependence of water and food security and the developed fundamental provisions of the economies of countries under the conditions of the global food crisis and the risk of a shortage of virtual water will create the following opportunities. Specifically, they enable state authorities to assess the depth of the specified crisis in the world and its consequences for all countries in 2022–2023. Such an understanding creates the conditions for making effective decisions on the volume of import of virtual water in a particular country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A stable and complete agricultural horizontal ecological compensation (AHEC) is an essential means of reconciling agricultural ecosystem protection and regional development and is also the key to the sustainable use of agricultural water and land resources. Unlike previous methods of studying agricultural ecological compensation (AEC), this study analysed the direction and amount of net transfer of agricultural land and water use along with inter-provincial trade. In conjunction with the value of ecosystem services embedded in agricultural land and water resources, this study calculated AHEC standards and estimated payments/reimbursements from each province. We found that agricultural land and water resources continued to flow from the underdeveloped inland provinces to the developed coastal provinces in 2017. In addition, the value of agricultural ecosystem in the central and coastal areas can be further enhanced by reducing the negative value of their cropland. Even though the ecological compensation standards for virtual agricultural water use (AWU) was much lower than the ecological compensation standards for virtual agricultural land use (ALU), the integrated AHEC in 31 provinces was more reasonable than considering only virtual ALU and virtual AWU. These findings are of great theoretical and application significance for the government to establish a systematic and feasible framework for inter-provincial AHEC and serve as a reference for other countries to conduct related research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple factors need to be considered when allocating water resources, among which water scarcity risk is often ignored. However, the unmet water demand of upstream sectors with high water dependency will exacerbate water scarcity, and lead to potential economic risk to the industrial chain. To solve it, we propose a method to quantify the intermediate virtual water scarcity risk transfer via the intermediate use matrix and Leontief inverse matrix, and apply it to virtual water trade in China in 2018. Meaningful conclusions are drawn as follows: (i) Although the water-use efficiency of all sectors in China increased steadily from 2007 to 2018, the overall input concentration of virtual water scarcity risk showed a rising trend, reflecting the gradual increase in the vulnerability of the industrial chain to water shortage. (ii) The virtual water scarcity risk in China mainly transferred through the secondary industry. The secondary industry accounted for 51.8% of the output and 71.8% of the input in the intermediate virtual water transfer, while 77.0% and 74.7%, respectively, in intermediate virtual water scarcity risk output and input. (iii) From 2007 to 2018, agriculture, chemical industry, metallurgy, electricity and heat supply always ranked as the top four of intermediate virtual water scarcity risk output sectors. As their downstream sectors, the construction industry, metallurgy, and other services are stable within the top four input sectors. (iv) The virtual water scarcity risk upstream transmitted is significantly dispersed after the intermediate inputs process, indicating that abundant import relationships are conducive to reduce the risk taken in. From the perspective of intermediate input, this paper argues that it is necessary to both ensure the water supply of the upstream source sectors and disperse the downstream import sources. Moreover, enriching industrial structures and closing production linkages between sectors is also beneficial for promoting sustainable economic development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Due to the increase in population, growing urbanization, and higher demands for processed and unprocessed foods, resources related to food production have become scarce. Water and land can be considered as the primary resources to determine the crop production potential of a country. Ideally, countries that lack water and land resources can import these in virtual form. Sri Lanka is a country rich in water resources that faced bankruptcy recently. This study analyzes and explores the potential for use of land–water resources in Sri Lanka. A comprehensive framework is generated to identify the virtual land–water trade by considering ten major imports and nine major export crops in Sri Lanka. Consequently, the top ten imports/exports and top ten import/export trade partners are identified. The analysis reveals that Sri Lanka is a heavily import-dominant country, having seven times higher imports compared to exports. The country imports wheat, which is 82% of its import crops, and the same crop is the largest export (85% of crop export). Compared to its trade partners, Sri Lanka has sufficient water resources, but availability of arable land is limited. Banana is the largest export of the country, which involves higher embedded water and less land, matching the resource availability to Sri Lanka, whereas the trade partners are expected to continue importing the crop due to their water and land stress conditions. Finalization of the long-awaited agriculture policy of the country is strongly recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This paper presents a multipurpose optimization algorithm (MOA) to optimize crop patterns under climate change, minimizing water use and maximizing crop revenue while enforcing food security and regional water security constraints. An application of the MOA yields a total of 12 Pareto fronts for 20-year horizons centered on 2030, 2050, 2070, and 2090 under representative concentration pathways (RCPs) 2.6, 4.5, and 8.5, each of which is associated with specific land use conditions. The results show that crop production must increase due to population growth. However, climate projections for the study region in eastern Iran indicate unsuitable conditions to support the incremental production. This paper's optimization results show that 89%, 73%, and 48% of optimal crop production are achievable considering food-safety constraints in 20-year periods centered on 2050, 2070, and 2090, respectively. This paper's results indicate that revenue would increase, water use would decline, and environmental sustainability would be reached in the study area under the optimized cropping patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Studia Ecologiae et Bioethicae is the property of Uniwerystet Kardynala Stefana Wyznskiege w Warzawie and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

We present evidence that international trade may exacerbate the initial unequal distribution of hydric resources. This result is driven by the fact that countries exporting agricultural goods are relatively abundant (with respect to capital) in the combined availability of water and arable land but, in absolute terms, scarce in capital and not richer in water in comparison to more developed ones. Due to both the scarcity of capital and the lower relative price of natural resources with respect to capital, the total value of production in these developing countries is modest, implying that international trade can lead to a less even distribution of the water content of consumption. Policies sustaining water prices and, more generally, those of natural resources (or lower capital costs) may contribute to offsetting this effect and allow for trade to play a positive role in reducing the uneven distribution of water endowments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the growing importance of groundwater in irrigated crop production, policies aimed at restricting groundwater use create fears of intensified food insecurity. Yet, a comprehensive quantitative analysis is required to evaluate the impacts of groundwater sustainability restrictions on food system. Using a multi-scale multi-system framework integrating economic and biophysical determinants of sustainability, we find that the local economic impacts of a groundwater sustainability policy are often substantial. However, due to market-mediated responses, including surface water substitution, expansion of rainfed production, relocation and virtual trade in blue water, the final impact on global food prices and production is surprisingly modest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food security and virtual water considerations interact in a corporatized third food regime, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), the world's largest grain importing region. Globalization has created asymmetric trade interdependence that can be weaponized by states that control global economic hubs, yet countries in the Global South have actively exploited the rivalries of big powers, temporarily capturing chokepoints and entering new alignments. The virtual water paradigm that Tony Allan first coined can be applied creatively to international relations that are increasingly characterized by 'weaponized interdependence'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Virtual water – embedded in an agricultural commodity by virtue of evapotranspiration during crop growth – is effectively consumed by the purchaser. In water-poor economies, it breaks their dependence on local water-for-food and acts as a political stabilizer. Tony Allan's concept remains highly relevant in the irrigated drylands for which it was developed, but calculating water footprints for agriculture elsewhere should take account of the non-agricultural counterfactual – which may consume more water than the agriculture that replaces it. Otherwise, use of water footprinting, for example, in trade policy, will be misleading and counterproductive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Latin America and the Caribbean, the interrelationships among water, energy, and food are complex, partly due to their development models, which are intensive in their use of these resources. This research aims to recognize and quantify the use of water and energy in food in Ecuador by identifying the main interrelationships, together with their causes and current impacts. Regarding methodology, this research uses sectoral data available at the national level and international databases to obtain cross indexes. The following indicators were sought: percentage of energy demanded by food in different stages, extraction of water for agricultural use, food energy productivity, virtual water, and embodied energy. As a result, it was estimated that food consumes 50% of imported energy and cocoa stands out with 7.6 km3 of water footprint; the products with the highest energy consumption are shrimp with 2090 KBOE and fish with 1459 KBOE. Fishing and aquaculture products present with a significantly high consumption level. Nearly all the virtual water and embodied energy are exported in banana, cocoa, and shrimp. Exporting groups make extensive use of the country's water and energy resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: Water shortage has become the main bottleneck restricting the sustainable development of Beijing. The temporal evolution of physical water consumption and virtual water flow in Beijing is analyzed. The total physical water consumption of various economic departments in Beijing shows an overall decreasing trend. There are significant differences in virtual water flow patterns of different departments. Inter-regional joint production will be the key to solve the problem of uneven spatial and temporal distribution of water resources. With the rapid development of the socio-economic system and the close connection of inter-regional trade, the physical water consumption in production and the virtual water flow associated with inter-regional trade are both have a significant impact on local water systems, especially in megacities. Beijing is the political, economic and cultural center of China, which is a megacity that has severe water scarcity. To evaluate the status-quo of local water consumption and propose the countermeasures, this study quantitatively analyzed the evolution trend of physical water consumption and the virtual water flow in Beijing. The results show that the total physical water consumption in Beijing decreased from 2.43 billion m3 (2002) to 1.98 billion m3 (2017), while the net virtual water input increased from 1.76 billion m3 (2002) to 3.09 billion m3 (2017), which was mainly embedded in agricultural and industrial products. This study also reveals the equal importance of physical water and virtual water in ensuring the regional water security and sustainable economic development. In view of poor water resource endowment, Beijing should conduct the coupled management of physical water and virtual water to alleviate the local water shortage, i.e., to receive more virtual water embedded in agricultural and industrial products, and allocate the limited local water resources to domestic use and high-benefit sectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the largest lake within Iranian borders, Lake Urmia's critical conditions have disrupted its primary functions in recent years due to environmental challenges. Considering the virtual water (VW) concept (which takes into account the value of every unit of water volume in addition to the consumed volume of water) as a component of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) can be nominated as an excellent approach for improving the conditions of the Lake Urmia catchment. Here, with the aid of WEAP (Water Evaluation and Planning) software, the region based on IWRM principles is modeled. Then, the necessities and effectiveness of optimizing VW in agricultural activities have been investigated through different cases. A comparison of the cases reveals the unfavorable condition of local agricultural practices at present, both in terms of water consumption and financial revenues. If not remedied, the current situation can aggravate the water scarcity problem in the region. Furthermore, the results suggest that considering multiple objectives (besides water consumption) in making a decision on the cropping pattern can present a more realistic response to the situation, improve the lake's conditions, and resolve the scarcities to certain extents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Foco (Interdisciplinary Studies Journal) is the property of Revista Foco and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Taking the Tarim River basin as the research object, the water footprint was calculated based on the water footprint theory based on the relevant data from 2008 to 2019, and the water resource evaluation system was constructed to analyze the water footprint and water resource utilization of the Tarim River basin from three levels of structure, benefit, and ecology. Based on the water footprint theory, the annual water footprint and GDP of Tarim River basin were used to construct the Tapio decoupling model, and the decoupling type between water resources utilization and economic growth was obtained. The relationship between water resource utilization and economic growth in Tarim River was analyzed by combining the decoupling type evaluation and water footprint evaluation. The internal benefit is poor, and the external benefit is good; The degree of water resource shortage is on the rise, and the self-sufficiency rate of water resources is large. On the whole, the decoupling strength increases gradually. Decoupling strength has obvious industrial influence characteristics. Based on the above research conclusions, the sustainable economic and ecological development of the Tarim River basin can be realized from two aspects: reducing water footprint and strengthening decoupling intensity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copper is an important strategic resource for the national economy and social security of China. Water use is a significant component of copper production. However, water shortages and water pollution are two global crises in water resource management. In this study, a copper production industry in China was studied from the perspective of water footprint (WF) and ecological industry (eco-industry). A WF inventory was built by accounting for the entire production and supply chain process, including mining, ore dressing, transportation, smelting, and electrolysis. An index system comprising target, criterion, and variable layers was established to evaluate the sustainable utilization of water resources. It was observed that the studied industry showed a good sustainability for water resource utilization. Only 65.67 tons of freshwater per ton of product was inputted in the entire process due to virtual water (VW) and the use of reclaimed water. However, the WF of each ton of cathode copper product was 162.58 t, and the imported VW of the eco-industry accounted for 92.45%. Increasing the VW import and reducing the VW export can alleviate water shortages. A detailed WF analysis showed that the effects of evaporation and different types of losses on the blue WF (BWF) were significant and should be considered. Upstream water consumption of electricity and other energy sources were also observed to be an important part of the BWF. Regardless of whether freshwater or recycled water was used, the WF can be reduced only by effectively reducing water consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Groundwater use underpins much economic production. The unsustainable use of groundwater threatens environmental flows in surface waters, sustainable development, and future food security. The connection between agricultural trade and groundwater depletion has been recently highlighted, but how groundwater depletion supports the production of industrial and tertiary goods, trade, and consumption remains less well understood. Here, we present the first analysis of groundwater use and depletion embedded in the complete supply chain of China (including primary, secondary, and tertiary products). We use a multiregion input‐output analysis coupled with the high‐resolution groundwater use modeling to track groundwater depletion from production to end consumer. Our modeling results show that groundwater depletion occurred primarily in water scarce North China for agricultural production, but the depleted resource was then incorporated throughout the supply chain and dispersed across Chinese and international consumers. ∼64 billion m3 yr−1 (±1 billion m3 yr−1) groundwater was depleted in China, in which more than a half was from Xinjiang, Hebei, Henan and Heilongjiang Provinces. Approximately 40% of the groundwater depletion can be traced to interprovincial transfer (21 billion m3 yr−1) and export (4.8 billion m3 yr−1). The hot spots for final consumption of groundwater depletion were major cities in both North and South China. Importantly, over 60% of the groundwater depletion was embodied in industrial and tertiary products for final consumption, highlighting the importance of tracing groundwater through the full economy. Groundwater depletion represents a long‐term risk to supply chains, and policy‐makers can use this understanding to sustainably manage groundwater and diversify supply chains. Plain Language Summary: Groundwater is a critical resource that is under increased pressure due to unsustainable exploitation. Groundwater resources underpin both national supply chains and global trade, but how groundwater supports the full supply chain of a nation remains unresolved. This study traces the groundwater depletion incorporated in the complete supply chain (including industrial and tertiary products, not just primary goods) of China through interprovincial transfers and international exports. The results show how groundwater depletion, which is concentrated in North China, is distributed to domestic and international consumers of final goods. International importers receive China's groundwater in the receipt of industrial products. We highlight that groundwater depletion represents a long‐term risk to supply chains. Key Points: Groundwater depletion is traced using a multi‐region input‐output analysis coupled with the high‐resolution groundwater use modelingAbout 21 billion m3 yr−1 groundwater depletion, primarily from water scarce Northern‐China, is virtually transferred domesticallyGroundwater depletion supporting export to the Rest of the World is estimated to be 4.8 billion m3 yr−1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]