Thursday, April 9th
4pm, 2045 Bainer Hall
Targeting agricultural water management challenges in California: applied research and extension efforts
Dr. Daniele Zaccaria
Associate Professor of Agricultural & Biological Engineering
Agricultural Waste Management Specialist in Cooperative Extension
Department of Land, Air, and Water Resources
UC Davis
Summary:
At present, California agriculture consists of about 13 million acres of pasture and rangeland and 9.5 million acres of irrigated croplands, which require approximately 34 million acre-feet of fresh water per year, corresponding to nearly 40% of the total state-wide beneficial water use. As drought conditions continue, the increasing competition for water from urban and environmental demands require new team efforts to target some major agricultural water management challenges.
This talk highlights current trends and the main water-related implications in irrigated agriculture in California, and provides an overview on applied-research and extension activities conducted state-wide to respond to water scarcity. Some discussion points are finally outlined questioning on the economic and environmental sustainability of irrigated agriculture.
Coffee and cookies will be served.