Farming Drought Management Lessons From The Algarve
Although we’re blessed with a lot of wet weather here in the UK, we’re by no means immune to the risks posed by climate change and, as such, it’s essential that we build resilience into the system for the future so that we can continue enjoying life as we know it, even as global temperatures rise above 1.5 degrees C.
Signs of potential things to come were seen back in 2022, with the country experiencing its fifth driest summer since 1836, with record-breaking temperatures seen in various regions that year. This led to severe drought conditions emerging around the country, leading to drops in crop yields as a response to a lack of water in soils, rivers and reservoirs.
It would perhaps be naive to think that this was a one-off and, in fact, we can likely expect to see extreme droughts become more frequent and severe as time goes on, exacerbated by the fact that it won’t just be the agricultural industry that sees a rise in demand for water. All other sectors will require more supplies, all at the same time.
Of course, we certainly won’t be the only nation in the world facing these issues and, as such, it can be beneficial to look to foreign shores for inspiration as to how best to go about addressing the various challenges effectively.
Spotlight on: the Algarve
One part of the world that’s often affected by drought is the Algarve in southern Portugal, with the government threatening farmers with severe water restrictions of up to 70 per cent as a result.
While these ultimately weren’t introduced, it is a warning of what could happen in the future – and it’s inspired those in the agricultural industry to investigate innovative ways of irrigating the land to mitigate the effects of dwindling water supplies, EuroNews reports.
The Quinta do Canhoto winery, for example, has invested in a range of new solutions, including the use of sensors that measure humidity at different depths in real time, so that water is only used when strictly necessary.
An underground irrigation system is also now in place that delivers water directly to the roots of the vines, so that watering only needs to take place once a week, rather than eight. Developed in the US, this new technology aims to reduce evaporation and competition from other plants, potentially driving water savings of up to 30 per cent.
Co-owner of the vineyard Edgar Vilarinho explained that once the campaign comes to an end, water will have been saved and the quality of the fruit improved, thus providing a superior wine product overall.
Alternatively, UK farmers could look to Luis Silva and the Quinta do Freixo farm for ideas, which makes use of holistic management techniques based on ecosystem services provided by animals and plants.
Mr Silva has 1,200 sheep grazing on his lands in rotation to mimic how they’d be in the wild, stirring up the soil and adding organic matter that improves plant growth and helps water absorption by the soil.
The farmer explained to the news source: “At the peak of summer, the soil can reach temperatures of 60 degrees. No life can survive in those conditions, so it’s really important to keep the soil covered. If the soil is bare, then the water slides off it. The animals are helping to create a soil that will behave like a sponge.”
Interestingly, in December last year the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee published a report on World Soil Day urging the government to take soil degradation seriously and prioritise it in the same way as air and water to protect the environment and the UK’s food supply.
Approximately 37 per cent of the UK’s water storage capacity is currently held in the soil and if the nation’s soils were managed in such a way as to optimise their water infiltration and holding capacity, it could go some way towards reducing the pressures being put on water supplies.
Soil also has the potential to improve the recharge of groundwater and aquifers, thereby keeping the UK’s water environment in a healthier state than it is now.
Something that farmers might want to look at in particular is the concept of regenerative farming, which can help improve water storage capacity. It can also be beneficial from a flood risk perspective, helping to reduce pressure on resources even further.
Businesses keen to improve their water footprint to help make their operations more resilient, as well as shoring up supplies for the UK as a whole, can get off to a great start by having a water audit of their site carried out.
If you’d like to find out more about what this entails and how you could benefit, get in touch with the SwitchWaterSupplier.com team today.