Agricultural and Consumer Water Use
A sector study of the EMCP
American agriculture—including the related industries and value-add sectors that fuel it and depend upon it—is a case study in innovation-driven productivity and competitiveness, and our largest export. Since World War II, investment and R&D in agricultural science, technology, and land and resource management have increased the sector’s energy productivity by nearly 100 percent. Agricultural products and technologies remain a key component of American exports, and are a factor in the growth of the domestic service and manufacturing economy, supporting restaurants, tourism, apparel, furniture and design.
Collaboration between the private sector, government, labor and educational institutions has been key to this success. Technology innovations from John Deere’s plow to education policies such as the creation of America’s land-grant university system have driven meteoric growth in both output and productivity. Today, advanced fields such as biotechnology and genetic engineering are accelerating the process to squeeze yet greater efficiencies in labor, energy, and enhanced nutrition and flavor to feed America; and nanotechnology holds great promise for water purification and treatment. Yet, traditional scientific fields such as irrigation engineering, plant sciences and water resources management still can play a significant role with foundational knowledge using cutting edge tools and analysis available through computational advances.
However, America’s 21st century agriculture industry, and related industries like lawn and garden, faces serious challenges and tremendous opportunities, including the need to double food production by 2050 in order to feed the world. Temperature and precipitation variability are impacting American agriculture and industry. More than 80 percent of the contiguous U.S. has experienced abnormally dry conditions since 2012, and nearly 65 percent have been designated in drought. In spring 2014, 100 percent of California—America’s most agriculturally productive state—is in severe drought.
Elsewhere, groundwater resources—including the massive Ogallala Aquifer, the life-blood of the Great Plains—have dwindled to historic lows. And in many parts of the country, agriculture competes with energy, construction and other sectors for water resources. As domestic energy production rises, society must balance competing needs for access to fresh water at the local, state, and national level.
Consumer demand also is driving change in the agriculture/lawn and garden/water sectors, including greater interest in organic products and sustainable production processes. A changing legal and regulatory environment is facilitating the entry of new products into the market, while increasing the already competitive demand for water and energy. The way we look at the inputs across the agricultural value chain is evolving, which begs a new set of questions regarding innovation and efficiency in growing and manufacturing processes.
On January 11, 2017, The Scott's Miracle-Gro Company, in partnership with Monsanto and the Council, hosted a sector study dialogue in Marysville, OH where leading experts in this space discussed how innovation-driven productivity in agriculture and related industries can drive U.S. competitiveness.
Key questions addressed by this sector study included:
- Given the tight linkage between energy and water, how can water be managed and used more efficiently and sustainably?
- What role do subsidies pay in distorting the marketplace both positive and negative; and are they creating the right incentives?
- What role can “big data” collection and analysis play in (1) optimizing the use, storage (above and below the ground) and movement of water in the United States and (2) unlocking new insights on what, when, and where to plant; when to fertilize, irrigate, and plough; and when to harvest.
- What is the link between water and advanced manufacturing and how do we balance the needs of the manufacturing sector with the agriculture sector?
- Is consumer water at odds with agriculture and/manufacturing? How might legal and regulatory changes affect this dynamic?
- Are we deploying all available technologies to addressing the water/agricultural challenge and what investments in R&D need to be made?
- What education and training is needed to ensure the best and brightest are engaged in this sector?
- Are there grand challenges that could inspire disruptive new technologies or processes in this sector?
