The world is facing a water crisis, putting food security at risk. World water consumption continues to rise as a result of continued population growth, changing diets and increasing demands for biofuels, while the frequency and severity of droughts will be exacerbated in the future as a result of climate change.

Water, the most essential resource for the survival of all organisms, is easily available in accessible reserves and the increasing anthropogenic pressure is making water scarcity a widespread concern in many parts of the world. The EU recognizes the major challenge represented by water scarcity and droughts and concluded that the cost of drought in Europe over the past thirty years was 100 billion.

Project Aim

The aim of this project will be to assess the impact of different irrigation and fertilization strategies in lemon tree production on water quantity and water quality in south-east Spain under different climate change scenarios, through a combined measurement and modelling approach.

Interdisciplinary Research Project

This project is an interdisciplinary research project and will combine water footprint assessment methods, dual measurement-modelling approach, climate change impact assessment and optimization strategies in lemon industry.

It will provide guidelines for good agricultural and irrigation and nutrition practices aimed at a sustainable lemon industry. The knowledge obtained in this project will be able to be applied to other crops and other regions with minor adaptations, contributing to position Spain as a global market leader in water-related innovative solutions.