Towards Water-Efficient Agriculture in the Danube River Basin: Insights from Hydro-Agroecological Modelling

Achieving the food-related UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly global food security and sustainable agriculture, requires sustainable intensification. This approach strives to close yield gaps by efficiently utilizing land, water, and agricultural inputs, while protecting natural ecosystems. Agriculture stands as the largest global consumer of freshwater, and its demand is expected to rise as a result of Global Change, making the enhancement of water use efficiency crucial for sustainable agriculture.

The Danube River Basin encompasses some of Europe’s most fertile regions, with its wide agricultural plains forming an important part of the continent’s breadbasket. However, agriculture in this region remains largely extensive due to insufficient resource inputs and water limitations. By adopting resource-efficient management (esp. fertilization, irrigation), yield gaps could be closed, thereby contributing to global food security. Nevertheless, in the Danube River Basin—the world’s most international river basin—20 countries and their water-using sectors are in competition for the basin’s freshwater resources.

In this presentation, we share research highlights, primarily from Probst et al. (2024), employing the mechanistic hydro-agroecological model PROMET in the Danube River Basin. PROMET integrates biophysically-based vegetation modelling and dynamic hydrological modelling at a high spatial and temporal resolution (1 km², 1 h). The model concept allows for systematic analyses of agricultural management effects (e.g. fertilization, irrigation) on crop yields, water use efficiency, and water balance through irrigation water withdrawal. This enables the identification of underutilized yield potential and hotspots of inefficient water use, facilitates understanding of inter-sectoral economic trade-offs (e.g. with hydroenergy production), pinpoints ecological impacts, and identifies opportunities for more efficient land management. Thus, this modelling approach offers valuable decision-support for both the agricultural and other sectors in the Danube River Basin.

References:

Probst, E., Fader, M. & Mauser, W. (2024): The water-energy-food-ecosystem nexus in the Danube River Basin: Exploring scenarios and implications of maize irrigation. Science of The Total Environment 914: 169405. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169405