Deck 1/4 Flashcards

VW and VWT

1
Q

Define Virtual Water

A

amount of water used for producing (food) commodities

water/food

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2
Q

Purpose of Virtual water trade strategy

A

promotes water scarce regions to import water intensive crops and export crops w high water use values

trade of food between water scarce and water abundant regions

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3
Q

Water productivity

A

production per unit of water consumed

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4
Q

Number one consumer of water

A

agriculture

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5
Q

Crop water productivity types

A

physical, physical-economic, economic

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6
Q

crop water productivity (physical)

A

physical yield (ton/ha) per unit of water diverted or depleted

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7
Q

physical-economic CWP

A

value of crop per unit of water diverted or depleted

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8
Q

economic crop water productivity

A

value of crop per value of water diverted or depleted

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9
Q

field-level CWP improvement

A

change the literal field
- irrigation
- cultivation
- reclaiming of soil quality
- irrigation renovation
- training farmers

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10
Q

plant level improvement of cwp

A

change the plant itself
- increase harvest index
- improve drought tolerance
- improve salinity tolerance

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11
Q

regional level of cwp improvement

A

changing the crop pattern

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12
Q

which level of improvement of cwp is a virtual water strategy

A

the regional level

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13
Q

why was the term virtual water developed

A

to encourage the importation of food into water scarce countries so they can limit water use and meet food demands

water scarce regions typically MENA
it’s importing virtual water

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14
Q

how to increase water productivity

A

increase production per unit of water consumed

water saving

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15
Q

water footprint

A

water consumption in one region can impact other regions if export and import

imposed by VWT

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16
Q

which uses the most water for production?
corn, milk, cup of coffee, pair of jeans, beef, milk

A

beef, then jeans, milk, corn, coffee

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17
Q

mexico and india have _____ VW content of commodities than US and china

A

higher

use more water for same amount of food

18
Q

VWContent of crops depends on

A
  • crop/commodity type
  • location of where it is produced
  • time of when it is produced (climate, season, how much time it takes)
  • management strategies in the production process
19
Q

why does climate change VWC

A

favourable vs unfavourable climate conditions change the water requirements for crops

20
Q

debates on VW concept

A

usefulness, feasibility of VW import to alleviate water scarcity

21
Q

VWT literature covers

A
  • water resource availability and food trade relations
  • VW flow and water use efficiency in the food trade
  • role of VW strategy in conflict mitigation and water scarcity management
22
Q

Water resource and availability and food trade relations literature

A

not much supporting a relationship 2003, blue water still main/only consideration when gw is main source of food production

23
Q

____1500 m3/capita/year means food import ____ with less water, ____ 1500 means changes in water availability ____ affect import

A

below, increases, above, do not

24
Q

VW flow and use efficiency in the food trade literature

A

how much food is being traded, quantifying how much water is being saved with VWT

25
Q

Blue water vs Green water

Blue water

A
  • mobile
  • possible substitutions
  • many competitive uses
  • requires conveyance facilities
  • high cost
  • significant impact on hydro system
26
Q

blue water vs green water

green water

A
  • immobile
  • no substitutions
  • few competitive uses
  • doesn’t require conveyance facilities
  • free
  • insignificant impact on hydro system
27
Q

blue water trade

A

water in rivers, lakes, reservoirs, ponds, aquifers

IRRIGATED AGRICULTURE typically uses blue water

28
Q

green water trade

A

water stored in unsaturated soil and used by plants for evapotranspiration

SOURCE OF RAINFED AGRICULTURE AND ECOSYSTEM

29
Q

opportunity costs and environmental impacts:
____ > ____

A

blue>green

30
Q

which is more efficient for exporting countries

A

exporting green water is more efficient

31
Q

in what way is exporting green water more efficient

A

in terms of physical water resources utilization

32
Q

vast majority of crop production is based on ____ water

A

green

33
Q

water challenges are ____ due to impacts and footprints of trade and consumption

A

local

34
Q

VWC equation

A

1/CWP x production

ET/yield x production (m3/kg x kg = m3)

35
Q

how much water will be saved in the global trade of cereal crops

A

400-600 km3 (~34%)

36
Q

When food flows from the countries where the virtual water content is low to the countries where the virtual water content is high, it generates ____

A

global water saving

opposite leads to global overuse of water

37
Q

VW saving at the global scale

A

if importing countries improve thier CWP (good thing), global water saving reduces and is not a meaningful indicator for efficiency

38
Q

water scarcity and conflict mitigation in importing countries

A
  • drive for self sufficiency despite decreasing water resources
  • poverty unable to afford food imports at intl prices
  • social problems with VWT (hiring farmers, policies, unemployment, immigration)
  • unstable political relationships
39
Q

conflict mitigation in exporting countries

A
  • increased ag landuse
  • increased soil and water pollution
  • low food prices at intl market
40
Q

major export barriers in production

A

tech, quality, cost of production, access to water

41
Q

major export barriers in markets

A

info, transport conditions, market channels, trade regulations

42
Q

the global VWT is predominantly ___ water

A

green