Transnational large-scale land acquisitions (LSLAs) for agriculture often increase irrigation, potentially competing with local water needs. This study combines hydrological modeling, statistics, and georeferenced LSLAs to assess water scarcity. While blue water scarcity existed before acquisitions, LSLAs exacerbate it through water-intensive crops and irrigation expansion. Investors target areas with preferential water access, suggesting LSLAs often appropriate water resources to the detriment of local users.
Publisher
Nature Communications
Published On
Jan 26, 2022
Authors
Davide Danilo Chiarelli, Paolo D'Odorico, Marc F. Müller, Nathaniel D. Mueller, Kyle Frankel Davis, Jampel Dell'Angelo, Gopal Penny, Maria Cristina Rulli
Tags
land acquisitions
water scarcity
irrigation
hydrological modeling
agriculture
blue water
local users
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