Abstract
The article analyzes the vigorous debate on strategic virtual water trade in order to save scarce water resources on a global, national or river basin level. It is agreed among experts, that many conditions must be fulfilled if developing countries are to use virtual water trade to their own benefit, while averting or compensating for the likely adverse consequences. Thus, the strategy is rather not suited for least developed countries but better suited to newly industrializing and so-called anchor countries. Regional economic communities with very unequally distributed water resources such as SADC can also benefit from virtual water trade. Before considering the variants of virtual water trade, the article examines also certain fundamental aspects of the strategy. Particular attention is paid to the consequences of increased water use efficiency and high unit water values for different crops on scheme and river basin level.
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Neubert, S. (2008). Strategic Virtual Water Trade – A critical Analysis of the Debate. In: Scheumann, W., Neubert, S., Kipping, M. (eds) Water Politics and Development Cooperation. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-76707-7_6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-76707-7_6
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
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