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A Degrowth Scenario• Hypothetical Government• Minimize throughput• Abandon non-renewable extraction
Agricultural Technology OptionsKealan Gell Agricultural Engineering, Wageningen University, Netherlands
Water Policy OptionsKatherine TrajanWater Policy, Oxford University, England
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Agricultural Technology
Define: Sustainability and Yield
MediumSoil quality, biology, coverUse of wasteWater retentionYield?Sustainability?
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Work Inputs – Machines, labour Yield ? Sustainability?
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Choice of Crops• Biodiversity
– Yield?– Sustainability?
• Yield– 20t dm/ha tropical NPP– 8-15t dm/ha root crops– 10t dm/ha temperate NPP– 5t dm/ha fruit– 3t dm/ha US maize– 0.8t dm/ha India no irrigation(FAOSTAT)
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Use of Crops: Ecological Footprint, Current Biomass Flows, Adequate standard of life?
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Line represents theoretical maximum yield of 10 t dm/ ha
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Water Policy Options
Fresh water is a finite resource
It keeps us alive
It is over-exploited
Local depletion does and will continue to occur
Supply augmentation options are limited
The “somewhere else” to get water from is getting harder to find
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1. Different policies can achieve the same objective2. The most effective policies are the least politically
feasible3. A combination of policies is less offensive than a
single regulation4. Produce National Resource Accounts5. Civil Society Participation
1. Identify unique management options2. Interested in long-term solution3. Increase awareness4. Improve effectiveness5. Increase transparency