Water, Food and Welfare

This book addresses the following topics: the contemporary model for water management and alternative approaches; the socioeconomic framework, water policy and institutions; water use for food purposes, water-resources inventory and irrigation; manifestations of welfare loss and water prices; change in dietary patterns and water security; hydrological stress and pressures on water availability; groundwater management problems; vulnerability and climate change; water demand of major crops; gray water footprint and water pollution; gray water footprint and mining; virtual water and food trade; estimates of the water footprint of four key cereals, forage, livestock and bottled drinks. It is the result of a cooperation between 16 researchers from eleven Mexican academic institutions.

Estimating a water footprint and a critical application of this methodology

The contemporary model for water management and the alternative approaches.- Socioeconomic framework.- Water policy and institutions.- Water use for food purposes.- Water resources inventory and implications of irrigation modernization.- Manifestations of welfare loss.- Prices and water.- A strategy with limited effectiveness.- Water use pattern.- Change in the dietary pattern and water security.- Hydrological Stress and Pressures on Water Availability.- Problems associated to groundwater management.- Vulnerability and Climate Change.- Water demand of major crops.- A methodology.- Gray water footprint and water pollution.- Gray footprint and mining.- Impact of metal extraction on water.- Considerations on virtual water and agri-food trade.- Water footprint of four cereals in Irrigated District 011.- Forage water footprint in the Comarca Lagunera.- Water footprint in livestock.- Water footprint of bottled drinks of and food security.