KEY FINDINGS

50% WATER SAVINGS water flowBecause of the sponge-like properties of humus, bio-agricultural farm management retains 30-50% more rainwater than conventional farming. In irrigation farming, such as rice growing, water usage is reduced by up to 50%, saving about a third of total water usage.

AGRICULTURAL WATER USAGE                      IRRIGATION  Seventy per cent of human water usage is in agriculture. Agriculture is the number-one user of freshwater worldwide.

  • WATER SCARCITY      DRY LAND Water scarcity already affects every continent and more than 40 percent of the people on our planet. By 2025, 1.8 billion people will be living in countries or regions with absolute water scarcity, and two-thirds of the world’s population could be living under water stressed conditions.

 

Benefits of Bio-agriculture

               

Saves water

 

waterflowBio-agricultural farming methods increase water retention This occurs most significantly during droughts and after storms.
The world grows twice as much food as it did 30 years ago, but uses three times as much water to produce it. Seventy per cent of human water usage is used in agriculture. By 2025 about 60% of humanity could face a disastrous scarcity of water. 2, 3, 13 64, 69 “Research in Australia has shown that a small increase in soil carbon can increase water stability from 20 percent to 50 or 60 percent.” (Peter Fisher, 2007) 2
Comparative tests show a 15-25% higher water retention rate in organic farming systems and up to 40% higher water retention rate in biodynamic farming systems. Irrigation needs have been reduced by 30-50% through biodynamic systems. Research shows that the increase in soil humus through organic farming systems is proportionally related to the water-holding capacity of the soil. 3, 13 The use of biodynamic methods on many farms in India, has led to spectacular results concerning yield and quality. Irrigation needs for rice were decreased by 30-50%, with increased water holding capacity due to superior soil structure, aeration and drainage, higher organic matter content, soil respiration, more earthworms and a deeper topsoil layer. 67, 68

 

Research in Australia has shown that a small increase in soil carbon can increase water stability from 20 percent to 50 or 60 percent.

 

 Potential food production increases with bio-agriculture

 

The following graph from the Climate Change Calculator shows how extra water availability through bio-agriculture helps food production to keep up with population growth..This graph is for the world as a whole - graphs for each individual country are also available here.

The amount of food required per person per year.is indicated by the red line. Currently there is sufficent food being produced (even though it is not eqally distributed)  By continuing with present water use (BAU) there will be less and less food for the increasing world population.

By gradually converting to bio-agriculture with an average of 40% less water usage the graph shows that world food production can keep up with population growth..

  WATER GRAPH