Chapter 7
Water Security: Challenges to the Irrigation
Water-Energy Nexus in Australia
Stefanie Schulte, Georgina Davis, and Jennifer Brown
Abstract Energy and water are inextricably connected in agricultural systems, and
with a changing climate and growing population, the water-energy-food nexus is
creating wicked problems at multiple scale. Over the past decade, Australia’s
irrigated agricultural sector has responded to pressures of water resource scarcity,
climate variability and productivity challenges by making large-scale structural
adjustments on farm. Converting existing on-farm irrigation equipment has achieved
significant water savings; however, there have been unintended consequences associated with these structural adjustments, including higher electricity costs. Escalating
electricity costs have negatively impacted Australian agricultures’ profitability and
productivity and encouraged food and fibre producers to irrigate at inefficient times
or revert towards more water-intensive practices. Several agricultural producers have
also considered switching to alternative energy supply options or a return to ‘dryland’ farming. The case studies presented in this chapter focus on Queensland and
New South Wales, showcasing the challenges of Australia’s agricultural producers
in reconciling their water and energy requirements whilst producing high-quality
food and fibre. The case studies illustrate how uncoordinated State and Federal
Government policies are undermining sustainable agricultural practices in Australia
and impacting the broader environment. The authors also outline how agricultural
producers are progressively tackling the water-energy-food nexus challenges
through innovative thinking and collaborative engagement between different stakeholders. There are signs that Australia is at the point of addressing complex problems
such as the water-energy-climate change nexus. Hence, policymakers should heed
this signal and apply the emerging concept of the modular principle to tame what
currently remains as a wicked problem, the water-energy-food nexus.
S. Schulte
New South Wales Irrigators Council, Sydney, NSW, Australia
G. Davis (*)
Queensland Farmers’ Federation, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
e-mail: g.davis@griffith.edu.au
J. Brown
Cotton Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia
© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2020
A. Omran, O. Schwarz-Herion (eds.), Sustaining our Environment for Better Future,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-7158-5_7
85
Water Security: Challenges to the Irrigation
Water-Energy Nexus in Australia
Stefanie Schulte, Georgina Davis, and Jennifer Brown
Abstract Energy and water are inextricably connected in agricultural systems, and
with a changing climate and growing population, the water-energy-food nexus is
creating wicked problems at multiple scale. Over the past decade, Australia’s
irrigated agricultural sector has responded to pressures of water resource scarcity,
climate variability and productivity challenges by making large-scale structural
adjustments on farm. Converting existing on-farm irrigation equipment has achieved
significant water savings; however, there have been unintended consequences associated with these structural adjustments, including higher electricity costs. Escalating
electricity costs have negatively impacted Australian agricultures’ profitability and
productivity and encouraged food and fibre producers to irrigate at inefficient times
or revert towards more water-intensive practices. Several agricultural producers have
also considered switching to alternative energy supply options or a return to ‘dryland’ farming. The case studies presented in this chapter focus on Queensland and
New South Wales, showcasing the challenges of Australia’s agricultural producers
in reconciling their water and energy requirements whilst producing high-quality
food and fibre. The case studies illustrate how uncoordinated State and Federal
Government policies are undermining sustainable agricultural practices in Australia
and impacting the broader environment. The authors also outline how agricultural
producers are progressively tackling the water-energy-food nexus challenges
through innovative thinking and collaborative engagement between different stakeholders. There are signs that Australia is at the point of addressing complex problems
such as the water-energy-climate change nexus. Hence, policymakers should heed
this signal and apply the emerging concept of the modular principle to tame what
currently remains as a wicked problem, the water-energy-food nexus.
S. Schulte
New South Wales Irrigators Council, Sydney, NSW, Australia
G. Davis (*)
Queensland Farmers’ Federation, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
e-mail: g.davis@griffith.edu.au
J. Brown
Cotton Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia
© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2020
A. Omran, O. Schwarz-Herion (eds.), Sustaining our Environment for Better Future,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-7158-5_7
85