Global Forum on Food Security and Nutrition (FSN Forum)

Re: Water and food security - E-consultation to set the track of the study

Chris PerryChris Perry

I wish you luck in evaluating the spectrum of responses you have received.  Those from John Passioura are particularly insightful.

I note that you plan to use (and evaluate) water footprinting approaches in your analysis.

I attach two papers that are extremely critical of the procedures for computing WFs and the policy-relevance of such calculations, even if accurate.

Water footprints: Path to enlightenment, or false trail? (PDF)

An Economic Analysis of the Virtual Water Concept in relation to the Agri-food Sector (PDF)

Locally, it is certainly a good idea to know how water is being used, and hydrology is a well-proven science that facilitates that analysis.  Especially when international trade is introduced, and NO attempt to evaluate the opportunity cost of all the other inputs into ag production, then we just have numbers with no relevance at all to decisions about water.

Regards

Chris Perry