Global relevance of Argentinean rainfed crops in a climatic variability context: A water footprint assessment in Buenos Aires province.

Argentina has a relevant international role as a producer of agricultural commodities. Buenos Aires is the province with the largest cultivated area of cereals and oilseeds of the country. Rainfed crops depend exclusively on green water, meaning a comparative advantage for Buenos Aires province. The green virtual water content in the crops produced in Buenos Aires has implications for water allocation at international level. A great amount of countries depends on the Argentinean rainfed agriculture. Therefore, it is important to understand the effects of climate variations on Argentinean crop production at local level and the role of rainfed crops in regional and international trade. We analysed the temporal and territorial variations of crops green water demand in a climatic variability context and their influence on the water footprint. The green water footprint of the main crops of Buenos Aires was assessed, including soybeans, maize, sunflower, wheat and barley, in different climatic conditions: for the period 2008-2018, which include a dry year, a humid year and an ordinary year. A dataset about the green water footprint at municipality level was provided, and the results were presented on maps for each crop and for the different climatic conditions. The relevance of green water of main crops in the world water-dependent supply chains was shown. This comprehensive green water footprint assessment provides a useful database for researchers, companies and policy makers in Argentina and beyond.

Food Banks against Climate Change, a Solution That Works: A Case Study in Navarra, Spain.

Worldwide, more than 1.3 billion tonnes of food are wasted each year, which is equivalent to releasing 4.4 Gt of CO2 equivalents (CO2e). In this context, the Food Bank of Navarra (FBN) annually avoids the waste of approximately 3000 tons of perfectly consumable food. The aim of this study was twofold: on the one hand, to analyse the carbon footprint of the FBN and, on the other hand, to perform a comparative analysis of the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in two scenarios, "with" and "without" the actions of the FBN, in order to identify and quantify the environmental benefits, in terms of GHG emissions reduction, associated with the reduction in food waste. The analyses were conducted in two different years. The carbon footprint associated with the FBN's activities was 147 t of CO2e in the year 2018. The quantification of GHGs in the scenario "without the FBN" showed that if the FBN did not exist 4715 t of CO2e would have been emitted. The results obtained in consecutive years were similar, highlighting the importance of the FBN-not only in social terms but also environmental terms-as it prevented a large amount of GHGs from being emitted into the atmosphere. A detailed account of the carbon emission reduction associated with the food bank's operations and the knowledge of the benefits involved could boost their positive effects in facilitating the integration of their activities into policies aimed at climate neutrality.

The Role of the Food Banks in Saving Freshwater Resources through Reducing Food Waste: The Case of the Food Bank of Navarra, Spain.

In the year 2011, the FAO estimated that food loss and waste reached one third of the total food produced worldwide. Since then, numerous studies have been published characterizing this problem and reflecting on its repercussions, not only social, but also environmental. Food wastage triggers unnecessary greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation or loss of biodiversity. This study aims to quantify the water-related benefits associated with food loss and waste reduction by studying the Food Bank of Navarra (FBN). For this purpose, the water footprint assessment manual has been followed. First, the water footprint of the activities of the FBN has been analysed for the year 2018 (scenario with the FBN). A comparative analysis has been carried out between the scenario with the FBN and a theoretical scenario without the action of the FBN. This has allowed us to highlight the benefits associated with the activity of this entity. The FBN not only avoided the waste of 2.7 thousand tons of food suitable for consumption in 2018, but also avoided the unnecessary use of more than 3.2 million m3 of freshwater. As a result of the present investigation, it can be stated that promoting food banks, which avoid food waste, would be an effective way to contribute to the protection and conservation of water resources.

Indicators and Recommendations for Assessing Sustainable Healthy Diets.

Research coupling human nutrition and sustainability concerns is a rapidly developing field, which is essential to guide governments' policies. This critical and comprehensive review analyzes indicators and approaches to "sustainable healthy diets" published in the literature since this discipline's emergence a few years ago, identifying robust gauges and highlighting the flaws of the most commonly used models. The reviewed studies largely focus on one or two domains such as greenhouse gas emissions or water use, while overlooking potential impact shifts to other sectors or resources. The present study covers a comprehensive set of indicators from the health, environmental and socio-economic viewpoints. This assessment concludes that in order to identify the best food option in sustainability assessments and nutrition analysis of diets, some aspects such as the classification and disaggregation of food groups, the impacts of the rates of local food consumption and seasonality, preservation methods, agrobiodiversity and organic food and different production systems, together with consequences for low-income countries, require further analysis and consideration.

Grey water footprint as an indicator for diffuse nitrogen pollution: The case of Navarra, Spain.

Nitrogen is an essential element for plant growth, while its application and associated pollution is a worldwide concern. Generally, diffuse source pollution and its impacts on ecosystem health are difficult to monitor and regulate. Here we used the grey water footprint (GWF) and water pollution level (WPL) indicators, based on a soil nitrogen balance approach to differentiate between surface and groundwater, in order to better understand and quantify the pressure that nitrogen fertilisation generates on freshwater. For the first time, we compared the results of these indicators with actual nitrogen concentration data in surface and groundwater bodies, showing in both cases a positive significant correlation according to Spearman correlation coefficient. This means that the theoretical WPL results might be valuable to anticipate and identify nitrate pollution in surface and groundwater bodies. However, several factors influence the N-related processes that should be considered, such as natural attenuation. We estimated the agricultural and livestock nitrogen loads delivered to freshwater and the associated GWFs and WPLs at the municipality level in Navarra. Large GWFs are observed in southern Navarra, particularly in intensive agricultural regions such as Ribera Alta-Aragón and Ribera Baja. We estimated that 64% of the GWF related to nitrogen loads came from artificial fertilisers, 16% from manure, 11% from atmospheric deposition and the remaining 9% from biological fixation, seeds and other organic fertilisers. Among the crops, cereals had the largest contribution to the nitrogen-related GWF (54%) followed by vegetables (17%) and fodder (11%).

An academic analysis with recommendations for water management and planning at the basin scale: A review of water planning in the Segura River Basin.

Water resources management is particularly challenging in water-scarce basins, where low water availability is combined with a potential water demand exceeding the supply capacity of the natural system. This is the case of the Segura River Basin in south-eastern Spain. This paper aims at analysing the usefulness of incorporating new hydrological data and perspectives to improve the understanding of water availability and management and help promote more integrated water planning in the Segura Basin. In this basin, agriculture amounts to approximately 1366 hm3/year and accounts for 80% of the total blue water use. The forest and agriculture use of soil water amounts to 3065 and 1962 hm3/year, respectively. The unaccounted virtual water trade is also relevant and helps in mitigating water scarcity in the basin. The basin is a net virtual water-exporting region, with an average export of 1598 hm3/year, mainly in the form of fruits and vegetables, and imports approximately 1253 hm3/year, mainly related to feed for pig farms. Virtual water imports are four times larger than the disputed water transfer rate to the Segura Basin from other river basins. Water productivity analyses by sub-sectors are useful in understanding the economic rationale of the basin activities. Two types of agriculture coexist in the basin, namely, intensive industrial agriculture and occupational farming, which maintain the territory and landscape. From a Mediterranean country perspective, the analysis recommends considering climate fluctuations and temporal variability and trends of water availability and use, moving beyond the average values considered in river basin management plans. Groundwater reserve depletion continues to occur at a rate of 231 hm3/year, as water from wells is currently cheaper than using desalinated water in farms, and it does not cause boron-related water quality problems for irrigation. If socially costly administrative measures are not taken, groundwater reserve depletion will continue.