Water is essential to life and crucial for agricultural food production. During the last century, irrigation played an important role in increasing and stabilizing crop yields leading to significant improvements in food security and nutrition in many countries. According to OECD (2010), approximately 70 percent of global freshwater withdrawal is used in agriculture, and a large share goes on feed and livestock production.

The Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy and the Massey University of New Zealand are inviting abstract submission to present case studies in which different methodological frameworks are applied to assess water use in livestock production and supply chains. Selected abstracts will be invited to present during an expert workshop in Potsdam, Germany in December, and submit a full manuscript for a special issue of peer- reviewed journal publication.

Methods

Present and analyse case studies applying innovative methods to assess potential adaption strategies to raise water productivity and reduce water use impact of livestock production systems and supply chains based on FAO LEAP guidelines. Selected case studies from OECD countries may attract potential funding for travel and participation at the workshop.

Please submit your abstract latest by 20th November 2022

About the workshop

A hybrid workshop on water use assessment of livestock production systems and supply chains will take place in Potsdam, Germany, from 14 to 16 December 2022. The event is sponsored by the OECD Co-operative Research Programme: Sustainable Agricultural and Food Systems. Invited experts from Chile, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom will present and discuss their recent research findings.

FAO LEAP guidelines

In 2019 the FAO Livestock Environmental Assessment and Partnership (LEAP) technical advisory group on water developed guidelines for assessment of water use in livestock production and supply chains. This work aimed at building consensus for water use assessment in order to report blue water scarcity footprints and to identify actions for improvement in water management. The objectives of these guidelines is to develop a harmonized and science-based approach to assess water flows, relevant for global livestock supply chains, and to identify the principal areas where ambiguity or differing views exist concerning the methodological framework.

Contacts

For more info on the call for abstract and the workshop contact:

• Katrin Drastig: [email protected]
• Ranvir Singh: [email protected]