Efficient water use in agriculture under climate change conditions

Abstract

The article reveals the alarming prospects of a growing water crisis, driven by freshwater scarcity, accelerating climate change, water pollution, unequal access to safe water, and emerging threats to food, energy, and environmental security. It demonstrates that adaptation of the agricultural sector requires comprehensive solutions in water resource management, integration of environmental, technological, and financial instruments, and changes in practices at all levels of farming. The necessity of revising approaches to water consumption and use in Ukraine is substantiated, taking into account current climate and war-related risks, EU experience, and the Sustainable Development Goals. The paper analyzes the SMR (Statutory Management Requirements) and GAEC (Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition) standards, which set mandatory environmental and management requirements for farmers, promoting water efficiency, soil protection, and reduction of land and water pollution. At the same time, emphasis is placed on the feasibility of introducing the water–energy–food Nexus approach into agricultural water management, integrating water footprint indicators into the financial system through concessional lending, and developing water reuse infrastructure. Particular attention is paid to the implementation of precision irrigation, optimization of agrotechnical measures with a focus on moisture conservation, development of vertical farming, improvement of monitoring systems, and nature-based solutions for wetland restoration. The expected effects include improved water-use efficiency, reduced vulnerability of agricultural production to droughts, restoration of aquatic ecosystems, strengthening of community resilience, and acceleration of European integration through alignment with EU standards.