Food, Agriculture and Water

Protecting the flow: Study explores market scenarios for water

Existing systems for allocating water could leave some rivers high and dry. A recent study explored how a marketplace for water might better protect critical water resources.

Thursday, August 27, 2015
Aaron Willis

In China, the potential for harnessing the power of waste cooking oil

While China is the world's largest waste oil producer there are interesting win-win situations for developing both renewable energy and reducing illegal use of gutter oil in cooking.

Thursday, August 20, 2015
Michèle Zollinger

Are virtual water calculations helpful in informing regional water policy?

In water scarce regions, the concept of "virtual water" may help communities make tough decisions regarding competing water uses.

Thursday, August 6, 2015
Sam Cohen

Water crowding, precipitation shifts, and a new paradigm in water governance

Cumulative pressures on the global water cycle threaten social stability. An integrated approach to water management that crosses traditional boundaries between business, political, and ecological systems is required to ensure harmonious social and economic development.

Monday, July 20, 2015
Ben Morelli

From refining sugar to growing tomatoes: A case study of industrial symbiosis

While British Sugar's primary business is producing sugar, the company in recent years has expanded its operations to include the production of animal feed, electricity, tomatoes, and bioethanol. A recent study illustrates how the company is a case study of a fundamental principle of industrial ecology — industrial symbiosis.

Thursday, July 16, 2015
Luciana Maia Villalba

A business case for ecosystem service valuation: Water in the Brazos

A recent study explored how businesses might value the critical ecosystem services provided by water — and how valuations could drive decision-making.

Monday, July 6, 2015
Aaron Willis

The compounding effects of multiple stressors on freshwater environments

Water scarcity intensifies freshwater ecosystem degradation. A new study evaluates the compounding effects of several stressors on water-scarce ecosystems in order to construct better management strategies.

Monday, June 22, 2015
Lindsey Ratcliff

Mapping agricultural water contamination risk in California's Central Valley

Groundwater contamination from agricultural sources threatens drinking water quality in California's San Joaquin Valley. Application of a geospatial tool may help farmers, researchers, and regulators identify farmland contributing to the problem.

Monday, June 8, 2015
Colin Brown

The role for global food markets in water-stressed world

Rain-fed agriculture and international trade may help buffer the impacts of increasing world-wide water scarcity on food availability and economic welfare.

Monday, May 18, 2015
Sarah Sugar

Fracking fluids in the Marcellus: Does it mix with groundwater?

The drilling process known as hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, requires the injection of specific mixtures of water, sand, and chemicals into the ground, a key concern around shale extraction. A recent study examined the movement of these fracturing fluids in groundwater.

Thursday, May 14, 2015
Aaron Willis
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