Water Security: Challenges to the Irrigation Water-Energy Nexus in Australia

Abstract

Energy and water are inextricably connected in agricultural systems, and with a changing climate and growing population, the water-energy-food nexus is creating wicked problems at multiple scale. Over the past decade, Australia’s irrigated agricultural sector has responded to pressures of water resource scarcity, climate variability and productivity challenges by making large-scale structural adjustments on farm. Converting existing on-farm irrigation equipment has achieved significant water savings; however, there have been unintended consequences associated with these structural adjustments, including higher electricity costs. Escalating electricity costs have negatively impacted Australian agricultures’ profitability and productivity and encouraged food and fibre producers to irrigate at inefficient times or revert towards more water-intensive practices. Several agricultural producers have also considered switching to alternative energy supply options or a return to ‘dryland’ farming. The case studies presented in this chapter focus on Queensland and New South Wales, showcasing the challenges of Australia’s agricultural producers in reconciling their water and energy requirements whilst producing high-quality food and fibre. The case studies illustrate how uncoordinated State and Federal Government policies are undermining sustainable agricultural practices in Australia and impacting the broader environment. The authors also outline how agricultural producers are progressively tackling the water-energy-food nexus challenges through innovative thinking and collaborative engagement between different stakeholders. There are signs that Australia is at the point of addressing complex problems such as the water-energy-climate change nexus. Hence, policymakers should heed this signal and apply the emerging concept of the modular principle to tame what currently remains as a wicked problem, the water-energy-food nexus.