1. WATER SUPPLY
WATER MANAGEMENT
WATER QUALITY
WATER and FOOD PRODUCTION
- Challenges for the Future -
Presentation to the Canadian Water Summit
June 28, 2012
Calgary, Alberta
Brent Paterson, P. Ag.
Executive Director
Irrigation and Farm Water Division
Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development

2. Future World Food Requirements
World food requirements
are expected to double in
the next 40 years.

3. Future World Food Requirements
World Population Growth Per Capita Food Consumption
Shift Towards More Animal Protein

4. World Food Production
The long-term ability to feed the
world’s growing population will
increasingly depend on:
An ever-shrinking land base; and
Increased competition for limited water
supplies.

5. Food and Politics
 Sharp increases in food prices due to world
shortages.
 July to September, 2010 wheat prices rose by
60-80%.
 The “Arab Spring” uprisings were linked to
discontent over food prices.
 Food demand is expected to increase
dramatically.

6. Undernourished People in the World
1100
People (millions)
1000
900
800
700
69-71 79-81 90-92 95-97 00-02 05-07 08 09 10
Years
FAO – World Food and Agriculture in Review 2010

7. Undernourished People in 2010 (millions)
37 19
53 Asia and Pacific
239 Sub-Saharan Africa
578
Latin America and
Caribbean
Near East and North
Africa
Developed Regions
Total: 925 million

8. Food Production
 About 60% of the world’s food is produced on rainfed
agricultural lands.
 Significant production increases on rainfed land is not
expected.

9. Irrigated Food Production
 Irrigation makes up only 17% of the world’s
agriculture land base.
 However, it produces about 40% of the world’s
food.
 Up to 80% of future food requirements will
need to be met by irrigation.

10. Irrigation Advantages
 Significantly increased production
compared to rainfed agriculture.
 More reliable production – less risk of
crop failure.
 Increased diversification and value-
added processing.

12. Increasing Productivity
California
Pakistan
Wheat Yield = 6 t/ha
Water Productivity =
Wheat Yield = 2 t/ha
1.3 kg/m3
Water Productivity =
0.5 kg/m3
If developing countries improve their
irrigation efficiency and crop yields,
irrigation expansion would not be required.
Molden et al: Dialogue Working Paper 1, 2001

13. Sub-Saharan Africa has considerable potential
to develop water storage and irrigation systems
that will significantly increase food production.
Increased international
support is required for
the development and
management of water in
developing countries.

14. Projected Water Scarcity in 2025
Many countries will be forced to
abandon their policy of food self-
sufficiency because of water
shortages.
Physical water scarcity
Economic water scarcity
Little or no water scarcity
Seckler et al, 2002

15. Alberta is positioned to play a
major role in helping meet
future world food needs.

16. Alberta’s Potential
 Large agricultural land base;
 20 million ha.
 Relatively small population;
 3.5 million
 Strong dryland agriculture;
and
 World-class irrigation system.
Agricultural Land
Irrigation

17. Current Irrigation
in Alberta
Irrigation Districts
• 560,000 ha
Private Irrigation
• 120,000 ha

18.  Primary Production
 Value-Added Processing

19. Increasing the Productivity
of Irrigation Water
Irrigation Water (millimeters)
125 40
Barley Yield (tonnes/ha)
200 900 mm 35
11 t/ha
175 30
150 25
6.5 t/ha
125 20
380 mm
100 15
75 2.5 t/ha 10
Irrigation Water
50 Crop Yield 5
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2015

20. Increase Food Processing Industries
Sugar Beets
Canola
Meat
Potatoes

22. Irrigation Conveyance Systems
Open Channels Conveyance Works
>8000 km
• 54% Open channel
• 46% Buried pipeline
Buried Pipelines

23. On-Farm Irrigation Efficiency
 1965 34% World average
is about 43%
 1980 58%
 1990 60%
 1995 65%
 2010 74%
 Future 90+%
Woods – 2010; Harms – 2012 (ARD)

24. Climate Change
 The agricultural industry has always
adapted to changing climatic conditions
on the prairies.
 However, accelerated changes in our
climate will require faster adaptation
than ever before.
 We are working with the agricultural
industry to assess adaptation strategies.

26. Finding The Balance
Environment Economic
Society

27. Irrigation District Water Quality
Calgary
• 2006-2007
• 2011-2015
86 Sites
Medicine
Sampled 4 times/year Hat
Lethbridge
Primary source sites
Secondary source sites
Return flow sites

28. Analyses – 150 parameters
Nutrients Metals Ions
Ammonia Aluminum (Al) pH
Nitrate-Nitrogen Antimony (Sb) Alkalinity
Nitrite-Nitrogen Arsenic (As) Calcium, Dissolved
Total (Kjeldahl) Nitrogen Barium (Ba) Magnesium, Dissolved
Dissolved Phosphorus Beryllium (Be) Sodium, Dissolved
Total Phosphorus Boron (B) Potassium, Dissolved
Cadmium (Cd) Sodium Adsorption Ratio
Biological Chromium (Cr) Hardness (as CaCO3)
Total coliforms Cobalt (Co) Alkalinity, Total (as CaCO3)
Fecal coliforms Copper (Cu) Hydroxide
E.coli Iron (Fe) Carbonate
Chlorophyll-A Lead (Pb) Bicarbonate
Lithium (Li) Chloride
Physical Manganese (Mn) Sulphate
Total Suspended Solids Mercury (Hg) Ion Balance
Conductivity Molybdenum (Mo)
Temperature Nickel (Ni)
Selenium (Se)
Silver (Ag)
Strontium (Sr)
Tellurium (Te)
Thallium (Tl)
Titanium (Ti)
Uranium (U)
Vanadium (V)
Zinc (Zn)

29. Analyses – 150 parameters
Herbicide Insecticide Fungicide
2,4-D DICLOFOP-METHYL a-BCH ISOFENPHOS BENALAXYL
2,4-DB DIMETHACHLOR ALDRIN LINDANE BUPRIRIMATE
ALACHLOR DIPHENAMID alpha-ENDOSULFAN METHOXYCHLOR CHLORONEB
ALLIDOCHLOR EPTC b-BHC MIREX CHLOZOLINATE
ATRAZINE ETHALFLURALIN BIFENTHRIN o,p-DDE ETRIDIAZOLE
BENFLURALIN ETHOFUMESATE BROMOPHOS-ETHYL o,p-DDT PROCYMIDONE
BENZOYLPROP-ETHYL FENOXAPROP CHLORMEPHOS OXYCHLORDANE QUINTOZENE
BROMACIL FLAMPROP-ISOPROPYL CHLORPYRIFOS p,p-DDT
CHLORPYRIFOS-
BROMOXYNIL FLAMPROP-METHYL METHYL PHORATE Acaricide
BUTACHLOR IMAZETHAPYR cis-CHLORDANE PIRIMICARB BROMOPROPYLATE
BUTRALIN MCPA cis-PERMETHRIN PIRIMPHOS-ETHYL TETRADIFON
BUTYLATE MECOPROP d-HCH PIRIMPHOS-METHYL TETRASUL
CHLORTHAL-DIMETHYL METOLACHLOR DIAZINON pp DDD (TDE)
CHLORTHIAMID op-DDD DICHLORVOS pp-DDE Bactericide
CLOMAZONE PICLORAM DIELDRIN SULFOTEP NITRAPYRIN
CLOPYRALID PROMETON DIMETHOATE SULPROPHOS
CYCLOATE PROPHAM DIOXATHION t-CHLORDANE Nematicide
DESMETRYNE PROPYZAMIDE ENDRIN TERBUFOS DICHLOFENTHION
trans-HEPTACHLOR-
DICAMBA QUINCLORAC ETHION EPOXIDE
DICHLOBENIL SIMAZINE ETRIMFOS trans-PERMETHRIN Growth Reg
DICHLORPROP TERBACIL FENCHLOROPHOS FLUMETRALIN
TERBUTRYNE FENTHION
TRIALLATE FONOFOS
TRIFLURALIN HEPTACHLOR