Abstract
This essay introduces a collection of articles that explore the future of groundwater-based agriculture in the Mediterranean from an interdisciplinary perspective, in a context of declining water tables due to intensive groundwater use. The imminent crisis that many groundwater economies face due to very rapid and intense global change may have severe irreversible social, economic and environmental consequences, but could also be the opportunity to make a clear break with current agricultural development models and move towards more sustainable agricultural practices. The Mediterranean region is, therefore, an interesting case for the future of intensive groundwater use, as innovative ideas and practices may emerge and inspire similar groundwater-based agricultural systems around the world.
Résumé
Cet essai présente une collection d’articles qui explorent l’avenir de l’agriculture basée sur les eaux souterraines en Méditerranée à partir d’une perspective interdisciplinaire, dans un contexte de déclin des nappes en raison d’une utilisation intensive des eaux souterraines. La crise imminente à laquelle de nombreuses économies basées sur les eaux souterraines sont confrontées à cause d’un changement global rapide et intense peut avoir des conséquences sociales, économiques et environnementales graves et irréversibles, mais pourrait aussi être l’occasion de rompre avec les modèles actuels de développement agricole et d'aller vers des pratiques agricoles plus durables. La région méditerranéenne est donc un cas intéressant pour l’avenir de l’utilisation intensive des eaux souterraines, car des idées et des pratiques novatrices peuvent émerger et inspirer des systèmes agricoles similaires dans le monde.
Resumen
Este ensayo presenta una colección de artículos que exploran el futuro de la agricultura basada en agua subterránea en el Mediterráneo desde una perspectiva interdisciplinaria, en un contexto de profundización de la capa freática debido al uso intensivo de agua subterránea. La inminente crisis que enfrentan muchas economías del agua subterránea debido a un muy rápido e intenso cambio global puede tener graves e irreversibles consecuencias sociales, económicas y ambientales, pero también podría ser la oportunidad de romper con los actuales modelos de desarrollo agrícola y avanzar hacia prácticas agrícolas más sostenibles. La región mediterránea es, por lo tanto, un caso interesante para un futuro del uso intensivo del agua subterránea, ya que ideas y prácticas innovadoras pueden surgir e inspirar similares sistemas agrícolas basados en agua subterránea en todo el mundo.
摘要
本文介绍了一系列专题论文,这些论文从跨学科角度探讨了地中海地区在大量利用地下水导致水位下降的背景下基于地下水的农业的未来状况。由于快速的、全球剧烈变化,许多地下水经济面临的迫在眉睫的危机可能造成严重的、不可挽回的社会、经济和环境后果,但是同时也为摆脱目前农业发展模式及实施更加可持续的农业生产提供了机会。因此,地中海地区是广泛利用地下水的一个很有趣的案例,因为创新理念及实践可能会出现,并对世界其它地方的类似基于地下水的农业系统带来启发。
Resumo
Este ensaio apresenta uma coleção de artigos que exploram o futuro da agricultura baseada em águas subterrâneas no Mediterrâneo sob uma perspectiva interdisciplinar, em um contexto de declínio de níveis freáticos devido ao uso intensivo das águas subterrâneas. A iminente crise que muitas economias de águas subterrâneas enfrentam devido a uma mudança global muito rápida e intensa pode ter consequências sociais, econômicas e ambientais graves e irreversíveis, mas também pode ser a oportunidade de fazer uma clara ruptura com os atuais modelos de desenvolvimento agrícola e avançar para práticas agrícolas mais sustentáveis. A região do Mediterrâneo é, portanto, um caso interessante para o futuro do uso intensivo de águas subterrâneas à medida que ideias e práticas inovadoras possam surgir e inspirar sistemas agrícolas semelhantes, baseados em águas subterrâneas, em todo o mundo.
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This article is part of the topical collection “Groundwater-based agriculture in the Mediterranean”
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Kuper, M., Leduc, C., Massuel, S. et al. Topical Collection: Groundwater-based agriculture in the Mediterranean. Hydrogeol J 25, 1525–1528 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-017-1598-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-017-1598-9