Technologies will tackle irrigation inefficiencies in agriculture's drier future
Thursday, May 28, 2015 - 09:00
in Earth & Climate
Water is a finite but crucial resource. In most river basins around the world, water is diverted for industrial, municipal and domestic consumption. It's also a critical component of wetlands and other natural ecosystems that are of tremendous value to society. Worldwide, the bulk of water use is tied to agriculture – it accounts for approximately 66% of water diverted from natural sources for human use and 85% of water consumption. In the arid western United States, it's not uncommon for irrigation to represent 75%-90% of all diversions.