H owever, interest in water and food security is still strong if the number of recent meetings and conferences is anything to go by. One delegate brought everyone down to earth by saying‘ we should not forget that we owe our very existence to 6 inches of top soil and the fact that it rains’. We can add irrigation to that as well which of course all depends on rainfall. So what better time to take a look beyond these more immediate worries over which we have little control, and think about the future of water resources over which farmers can exert much more influence, particularly by
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working together and with other water users. It’ s called Integrated Water Resources Management – IWRM for short.
This is the UK Irrigation Association Conference theme on 1 March in Peterborough. It focuses on Water Resources East( WRE) which is a pioneering project involving farmers, water utilities, environmental groups, internal drainage boards, and industry. It is taking a serious long look at how much water we may need up to 50 years ahead and where it might come from. Reservoirs are on the agenda, both big and small, that serve farming and domestic water supplies and include environmental needs. A similar project is getting underway in the
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South East and others may follow.
Steve Moncaster Anglian Water leads the WRE project and will update delegates on progress and on his experiences during a visit to the USA where similar initiatives are underway to bring different water users together and cooperate over limited water resources. Our special guest speaker from the USA, Thomas Tebb, Director Office of Colombia River, Washington State will follow Steve and discuss his first-hand experience of working to solve water conflicts among various users where there are strong environmental and farming interests.
How does WRE impact on irrigation? David Matthews, who trickle irrigates potatoes near Spalding and is closely involved in a planning initiative with Black Sluice IDB will provide a farmer perspective. And Professor Jerry Knox, Cranfield will assess future irrigation water demands and ask do we need a 25-year plan for water for food? It is a question the UKIA are continually being asked by planners and yet we do not have an answer.
Innes Thomson, CEO Association of Drainage Authorities, will talk about the IDBs
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and how we might avoid pumping water into the North Sea and make better use of it in the summer months. And Professor Paul Leinster, who was CEO of the Environment Agency, and is an advisor on natural capital to Defra’ s forthcoming 25-year plan for the environment, will discuss how the environment fits into the water picture.
Jeremey Wiltshire, Ricardo will present the results of the recent AHDB Irrigation Survey and what we need to secure future water for food. James Dodds MD at Envireau Water, will talk about the importance of data gathering and analysis to support evidencebased decision making. No longer does the loudest voice decide what happens. He will also touch on the trickle irrigation saga.
Finally Professor Joe Morris, Cranfield will use his many, many years of experience in agriculture and water management both in UK and internationally to round off with some strident views on Brexit – Irrigation under more uncertainty
This is a great opportunity to start the year with a bang. So register now on the UKIA website www. ukia. org Melvyn Kay UKIA Exec Secretary
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