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Feeding the World Through Increased Irrigation Productivity and Innovation

Feeding the World Through Increased Irrigation Productivity and Innovation. Water in a World of 7 Billion May 9, 2012. Roger Hohm, P.Ag. Head , Irrigation Secretariat Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development roger.hohm@gov.ab.ca. Alberta’s Economy.

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Feeding the World Through Increased Irrigation Productivity and Innovation

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  1. Feeding the World Through Increased Irrigation Productivity and Innovation Water in a World of 7 Billion May 9, 2012 Roger Hohm, P.Ag. Head, Irrigation Secretariat Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development roger.hohm@gov.ab.ca

  2. Alberta’s Economy • Alberta’s economy depends on having a strong, global export base. • Our economy is therefore shaped by what happens in the rest of the world.

  3. Global Food Consumption(kcal/capita/day) 3200 3000 Population growth, combined with increased per capita consumption, will result in dramatic increases in the demand for food. 2800 2600 2400 2200 1965 1975 1985 1998 2015 2030

  4. Changing Diets • There is a shift towards more animal protein in the developing countries. • Per capita meat consumption in developing countries is expected to increase from 26 kg. in 1997/98 to 37 kg. in 2030. • This is a result of increasing economic development and per capita incomes.

  5. Alberta Livestock Exports • Beef Exports: $1.10 Billion • 75% of Canadian total • Pork Exports: $390 Million • Approximately 2.0 million head/year • Poultry Exports: $200 Million • 50,000 tonnes

  6. Implications to Cereal Production • 1 kg of chicken meat requires: • 3 kg of grain equivalents; • 1 kg of pork meat requires: • 5 kg of grain equivalents • 1 kg of beef requires: • 8 kg of grain equivalents;

  7. Per Capita Harvested Area (ha) World‘s Grain Harvested Area Population (Billions) 10 0.25 9 8 0.2 7 Population (Billions) 6 0.15 Hectares 5 4 0.1 3 2 0.05 1 0 0 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 2030 2040 2050

  8. Water and food have been closely linked throughout history.

  9. Irrigated Food Production • About 40% of the world’s food, and 60% of cereal production is from irrigated lands. • Irrigation makes up about 17% of the total arable land base. • It is estimated that up to 80% of future food requirements will be met by irrigation.

  10. Projected Water Scarcity in 2025 Physical water scarcity Economic water scarcity Little or no water scarcity Seckler et al, 2002

  11. Alberta recognizes the need and opportunity to significantly increase agricultural food production to meet future world demands.

  12. Per Capita Harvested Area (ha) World‘s Grain Harvested Area Population (Billions) 10 0.25 9 8 0.2 7 Population (Billions) Why does Alberta have the potential to become a key food supplier to the world? 6 0.15 Hectares 5 4 0.1 3 2 0.05 1 0 0 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 2030 2040 2050

  13. Production and Diversification • Alberta’s advantages: • a large agricultural land base; • a strong dryland agriculture; and • a world-class irrigation system.

  14. IRRIGATED AGRICULTURE Privately Owned Public/Government Partnership Government Owned

  15. PROVINCIALLY OWNED WATER MANAGEMENT INFRASTRUCTURE CARESLAND-BOW R. HEADWORKS PINE COULEE LETHBRIDGE NORTHERN HEADWORKS OLDMAN RESERVOIR WATERTON-ST.MARY HEADWORKS WESTERN HEADWORKS On-stream Reservoirs = 7 Off-stream Reservoirs = 8 Canal Infrastructure = 400 km TOTAL STORAGE Approx. 1.5M ac.-ft. Lake McGregor Little Bow Res Travers Reservoir Keho Lake Waterton Res St.Mary Res Milk River Ridge Reservoir Jensen Res

  16. Private On-Farm Investment ~ $1.3 Billion Government Contribution = approx.$800 Million Irrigation District / Producers = approx.$190 Million TOTAL Capital Investment = approx. $990 Million Capital Investment in Irrigation Infrastructure Alberta Government & Irrigation Districts (Irrigation Producers) ICW / IREP / IRP - 1969 - 2011

  17. Results of Private Investment Flood to Wheels 22% efficiency increase Wheels to Pivot 15% efficiency. increase

  18. On-Farm Application Efficiencies • 1965 34% • 1980 58% • 1990 60% • 1995 65% • 2010 74% • Future 80% Woods – ARD, 2010

  19. Net Result of On-Farm System Improvements 1000 mm 545 mm 455 mm 45 mm 500 mm 455 mm 45 mm 40 mm 415 mm 380 mm 35 mm 405 mm 595 mm * Assumes an average NET application of 300 mm (12 inches)

  20. Public/Government Investment Through IRP • Less seepage • Less evaporation • Better water measurement and management • Reduced return flows

  21. Irrigation Conveyance Systems Open Channels Conveyance Works >8000 km 52% Open channel 48% Buried pipeline Buried Pipelines

  22. Conveyance System Improvements From this . . . . . . to this!

  23. IRP Lined Canals & Pipelines All Districts 2500 250 2000 200 Accumulated Kilometres 1500 150 Annual Kilometres 1000 100 500 50 0 0 1994 1996 2000 1988 1990 1992 1998 2006 2002 2004 1982 1986 1984 1980 Annual Lined Installed Length Annual Pipeline Installed Length Accumulated Lined Length Accumulated Pipeline Length

  24. Estimated Water Savings1991 - 2010 • Public/Government Investment: Infrastructure - rehabilitation, automation, management 180,000 ac. ft. • ProducerInvestment On-farm: Infrastructure 280,000 ac. ft.

  25. Per Capita Harvested Area (ha) World‘s Grain Harvested Area Population (Billions) 10 0.25 9 8 0.2 7 Population (Billions) Why does Alberta have the potential to become a key food supplier to the world? 6 0.15 Hectares 5 4 0.1 3 2 0.05 1 0 0 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 2030 2040 2050

  26. Canada Access to ChinaAlfalfa/Forage • China grocery market estimated at $1.0 Trillion • China milk production to double by 2015 • Milk value in China estimated at $22.1 Billion • Green Prairie – March 2012, 20 containers shipped, 60 more on order…future ????

  27. Improved Irrigation Water Use Efficiencies … … Expectation for “Freed-up” Water! Irrigation Expansion Environmental Replenishment to Source “I’m Free!” Status Quo Water Users Other Uses

  28. Expansion Potential Water, not land, is the limiting factor restricting irrigation expansion. Interest by producers to irrigate far exceeds current water supplies in southern Alberta.

  29. Irrigation Expansion Potentialusing existing allocations • About 640,000 ha (1.58 m ac.) of land is currently irrigated in both organized districts and private schemes. • Irrigation Districts have voted to expand by 13% 70,000 ha (173,000 ac.) in the past few years

  30. Irrigation District Expansion Limits

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

  32. Any right answer Economic Development (e.g. Irrigation Expansion) Water “Conservation” for the “Environment” Saved Water

  33. Summary • World demand for food will grow at an increasing rate. • In the short and medium term, countries like Canada will be called upon to help meet the growing demand. • Alberta is in a position to diversify and increase productivity.

  34. Thank You Questions? Irrigation’s future in southern Alberta faces many water management challenges . . . but equally many opportunities!

  35. Alberta Irrigation District Growth and On-Farm Water Use Efficiency Gains 1.6 1.4 1.2 1.0 Irrigation Area (Millions of acres) 0.8 0.6 0.4 0.2 0 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2008 YEAR

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