Topic: Sustainable Agriculture, Water Scarcity, Climate Mitigation and Adaptation in Agriculture

Speaker: Prof. Lorenzo Rosa, Carnegie Science, Stanford University

Time: 3:00-5:00pm April 25, 2025

Venue: Meeting Room A901, IGSNRR

Brief Introduction to the report:

Satisfying the growing global demand for food while mitigating climate change and minimizing environmental degradation is one of the most pressing challenges of the 21st century. Water scarcity is emerging as a key constraint on both climate adaptation and mitigation efforts, particularly in food and energy production.

This talk will explore the fundamental role of water in sustaining food production and enabling climate mitigation, emphasizing the trade-offs between agricultural intensification, water availability, and energy systems. He will present his research on agricultural water management for sustainable water and food security, which quantifies global agricultural water scarcity, evaluates irrigation sustainability, and identifies pathways to expand irrigation without depleting environmental flows or groundwater.

He also discuss strategies for achieving net-zero emissions in agriculture, including decarbonizing irrigation through net-zero emissions pumping, utilizing waste biomass for nutrient recovery and carbon sequestration, and assessing trade-offs in bioenergy production. A key focus will be on revolutionizing ammonia fertilizers production through decentralized, renewable-powered synthesis, a technological shift with the potential to enhance agricultural resilience and significantly reduce emissions from fertilizer use. By integrating hydrology, engineering, and sustainable resource management, this research provides a framework for optimizing water use while advancing food security, agricultural sustainability, and climate mitigation in an increasingly resource-constrained world.

Welcome to the Forum!

Hosted by Key Laboratory of Water Cycle & Related Land Surface Processes