This Will Be The Arab World's Next Battle -- Lester Brown, The Guardian
Population growth and water supply are on a collision course. Hunger is set to become the main issue.
Long after the political uprisings in the Middle East have subsided, many underlying challenges that are not now in the news will remain. Prominent among these are rapid population growth, spreading water shortages, and growing food insecurity.
In some countries grain production is now falling as aquifers – underground water-bearing rocks – are depleted. After the Arab oil-export embargo of the 1970s, the Saudis realised that since they were heavily dependent on imported grain, they were vulnerable to a grain counter-embargo. Using oil-drilling technology, they tapped into an aquifer far below the desert to produce irrigated wheat. In a matter of years, Saudi Arabia was self-sufficient in its principal food staple.
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My Comment: This blog has been talking about the impact that the Middle East water crisis will have on the region and on world food supplies for years .... all that I can say is expect more of these stories to increase in frequency in the years to come.
1 comment:
Israel is a world leader in dissalination technologies and is right next door.
Perhaps some sanity in middle eastern countries could lead to cooperation that could benefit both sides?
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