2010 Diary week 13

The garden

Pruning of olive trees was completed this week. Rather than burn the prunings I used as much as possible for fire wood and kindling and composted the remainder.

Book Review

Pillar of Sand: Can the Irrigation Miracle Last? points out that “water scarcity is now the single biggest threat to global food production.” “Many of the insidious threats that undermined ancient irrigation civilizations – including salt, silt, neglect of infrastructure, regional conflict, and unexpected climatic change – are rearing their ugly heads.” “Per capita irrigated area peaked in 1978 and has fallen 5% since then. By 2020, per capita irrigated area will likely be 17-28% below the 1978 peak. Irrigation has reached the point of diminishing returns.” “Between 1951 and 1985, Israel expanded its irrigated area fivefold with only a threefold increase in water use. Output per cubic meter nearly tripled and the value of output (in real terms) jumped 10-fold. Israel is the only nation that appears to have done what the world needs to do over the next 30-40 years – double water productivity in agriculture.” “Climate change on the scale that scientists are projecting for the next century adds a whole new dimension to the food and water challenge. History shows that climate wild cards can overwhelm a seemingly advanced society’s ability to cope.”