Just In

Scientists call for more investment and research into efficient water technologies

By science and technology correspondent Jake Sturmer
Country sunset

Scientists say there needs to be more investment and research into efficient water technologies to boost Australia's food production.

Audience submitted: Ken Jenkins

Australia's top scientists say far greater investment in research into efficient water technologies is required to see Australia become the food bowl of Asia.

When you tuck into a bowl of fried rice, chances are you are not thinking of the amount of water that has gone into producing it - let alone the kind of science that has gone into making production more efficient.

The CSIRO says in the 1950s, rice yields were about five tonnes per hectare and now it is double that.

Production has become more water-efficient too - but scientists say farmers are now at a crossroads.

"I think that we've been very successful in terms of agriculture around water use," the CSIRO's Dr John Hornbuckle said.

"As we move into the future we'll need to continue to ramp up those activities within the next 10-15 years to meet the ongoing challenges which we find in the agricultural industries."

The Federal Government's National Food Plan paints Australia as being the food bowl for Asia.

To try and achieve this, $28.5 million is to be spent on working out what Asia wants, with a target of a 30 per cent increase in Australian agricultural productivity by 2025.

But according to scientists leading research teams, like Dr Hornbuckle, it is going to be a challenge if there is no investment in water research and development.

"It comes down to two things - it's about having the [land and water] resources ... and having the expertise," Dr Hornbuckle said.

"If you look at the Australian primary industries ... it's very important to be able to embrace new innovations and technologies to keep abreast of any market changes that are happening."

Consumers need to pay 'proper price' for food

With the Murray-Darling Basin Plan cutting water entitlements by thousands of gigalitres - whether people like it or not - changes are coming.

London water expert Professor Tony Allan says people should consider the concept of virtual water when they eat.

"Virtual water is the water needed to produce something - so if it's a tonne of wheat you need [that's] 1,000 tonnes [of water]," Professor Allan said.

"For a tonne of beef, it's 16,000 [tonnes of water].

"So it takes some water to grow some things and an awful lot to grow others."

The Professor won the 2008 Stockholm Water Prize for creating the concept and says Australians need to be prepared to pay more for food to reflect the amount of water that goes into it.

"Society, if it thinks that water environments are so important, should be prepared to pay for them," he said.

"It shouldn't insist on having cheap food ... but if at the same time they want the environment to be stewarded - and the only people who can do that are farmers - they should get used to paying the proper price for food.

"That's why it's a long and difficult business because that's in the private sector food supply chain, so whenever you're talking about water you shouldn't just be talking about farmers, you need to be talking about people that buy the products from the farms."

Australia is one of the largest net exporters of virtual water and GHD civil engineer Mike Muntisov says there needs to be more emphasis on the true price of water.

"Those highly [water] intensive crops will start to be produced less and less due to market forces," Mr Muntisov said.

"Enhancing the market pricing so that we're starting to reflect the real price of water - the closer we get to that - will make a big difference and that will drive the innovation and efficiencies."

More Stories