| A water resources threshold and its implications for food security. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 12901649 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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Cereal import has played a crucial role in compensating local water deficit. A quantitative account of water deficit and cereal import relations therefore is of significance for predicting future food import demand and formulating corresponding national and international policies. On the basis of data for countries in Asia and Africa, we estimated a water resources threshold with respect to cereal import. Below the threshold, the demand for cereal import increases exponentially with decreasing water resources. There appeared to be a declining trend in the threshold, from 2000 m3/(capita year) in the early 1980s to 1500 m3/(capita year) by the end of the 1990s. Until recently, most countries below the threshold were oil-rich and thus were able to afford cereal import. However, the next 30 yr may see many poor and populous countries dropping below the threshold in association with their rapid population growth and the depletion of fossil groundwater. Water deficit-induced food insecurity and starvation could intensify because cereal import may not be affordable for these countries. |
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Authors:
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Hong Yang; Peter Reichert; Karim C Abbaspour; Alexander J B Zehnder |
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Publication Detail:
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Type: Journal Article |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Environmental science & technology Volume: 37 ISSN: 0013-936X ISO Abbreviation: Environ. Sci. Technol. Publication Date: 2003 Jul |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2003-08-06 Completed Date: 2003-11-04 Revised Date: 2004-11-17 |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 0213155 Medline TA: Environ Sci Technol Country: United States |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 3048-54 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
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Swiss Federal Institute for Environmental Science and Technology (EAWAG), Ueberlandstrasse 133, P.O. Box 611, CH-8600 Duebendorf, Switzerland. hong.yang@eawag.ch |
Export Citation:
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| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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Africa Agriculture Asia Cereals* Commerce Developing Countries* Environment* Food Supply* Humans International Cooperation Models, Theoretical* Population Dynamics* Poverty Water Supply* |
| Comments/Corrections | |
Comment In:
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Environ Sci Technol. 2003 Aug 1;37(15):273A-274A
[PMID:
12966952
]
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From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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