Dr. Christopher Bowden and Dr. Tim Foster, both from Manchester, have created quite a cultural splash in experimental agriculture. Using innovative machine learning algorithms and high-resolution satellite imagery, they aim to learn what kinds of irrigation practices different farmers use in Ghana. Their collaborative, groundbreaking effort is all about answering the central, crucial question — just how much water do we use to grow the world’s food? This research sheds light on existing irrigation practices. It supports planning investments to improve water supply reliability, increasing potential agricultural output per hectare.
The duo’s work is incredibly timely, as agriculture uses more than 70% of freshwater withdrawals globally. Knowing where irrigation is applied and how it is being used can best position policymakers to look for opportunities to use our water supplies more efficiently and more productively. The project is part of a collaborative effort between university and TNC scientists to map and monitor the spread of irrigation. It has already made a real-world difference in communities.
Real-World Applications of Research
Dr. Tim Foster commented on the gratifying short-term impact of their research. These results have helped inform members, including national and local governments, NGOs, and businesses. They’ve resulted in the creation of better designed and more effective irrigation projects.
“We can now rapidly map and monitor where and when farmers are adopting irrigation in Ghana and other African countries. We use these maps to help governments, development agencies, NGOs and the private sector to better design and target irrigation projects, to improve food security and help reduce rural poverty.” – [“phys.org” – phys.org]
Utilizing satellite imagery, Dr. Bowden and Dr. Foster pinpointed locations where communities developed new irrigation systems. They further identified areas where increased access to water would significantly improve agricultural output. Their work does an excellent job of cataloging the state-of-the-practice while shining a light on where things could go.
Global Context and Further Research
The significance of this research goes beyond Ghana. Dr. Bowden’s past research includes assessing the increased climate change-induced production failure risk for rice in India. This climate-globalization lens emphasizes the necessity of considering water and irrigation systems as a defense from climate extremes. Shoobhangi Tyagi and coworkers from around the globe resonate with this theme in their recently published research.
Future Implications
As agriculture, in all its forms, strives to adapt to growing ecological demands, knowing the nuances behind how we irrigate will undoubtedly prove indispensable. Dr. Bowden and Dr. Foster are continuing to lead this important area of research. This discussion has benefited tremendously from their work to produce actionable solutions that can actually boost food security in the most vulnerable areas.