At the annual Sourcing USA Summit (a biannual meeting,
jointly hosted by Cotton Council International and Cotton Inc., that “gathers
global leaders along the cotton supply chain for an open exchange of ideas”),
Erik R.
Peterson,
Senior Vice President, Center
for Strategic and International Studies gave a presentation
entitled
“Outlook for Global Water: Can We Stay Above the
Surface?”
Why do cotton growers
care about water supplies, and why are their concerns relevant to the rest of
us? Considering that agriculture
accounts for 70% of water use, it behooves us all to stop and listen to what our
farmers and growers have to say.
Especially when, as Peterson points out, “the food production target for
2025 will require the flow of more than 100 Colorado Rivers.” Considering the contention and acrimony
already surrounding water rights along the mighty Colorado, the prospect of
coming up with 100 times the amount it already supplies to the western US is
daunting and – hopefully – mobilizing.
With
demand increasing and supply decreasing, efficiency and conservation naturally
come to the forefront – only those solutions that incorporate smart water use,
treatment, and delivery will help us not only sustain our current needs, but
adapt to future challenges and opportunities. As Peterson points out, “One flush of a
US toilet equals one day’s water use in a developing country. The bottom line is that water policy
goes beyond altruism. A far-sighted
study will help define the impact of dislocation and will identify areas of
competitive advantage.”
Although
it may appear at first that municipal water providers and the agricultural
industry operate in two separate universes, their mutual dependence on a safe,
clean, and reliable water supply binds them together – one cannot operate
without considering the actions of the other. It’s often said that water is a shared
resource, which makes me wonder if the current balkanization of our water supply
– that clear demarcation between ag interests and muni interests – makes
sense. Isn’t about time we present
a united front against the challenges of scarcity and demand?