An integrated tool for water policy in agriculture

The definition of proper tools to support the implementation of Water Framework Directive (WFD) is an urgent task in the European Union (EU). Agriculture deserves special attention since in most countries water consumption is higher than in other sectors and pollution due to irrigated agricultural activity is often a serious problem, while social and cultural issues are relevant. The paper presents a program called DSIRR designed to conduct an integrated analysis of water use in agriculture considering agronomic, hydraulic, economic and environmental aspects as well as complexity and uncertainty for decision making. The tool permits to analyze in great detail the relevant production systems existing in a catchment integrating stakeholders perspectives. The impact of markets, water and agricultural policies, climate, technological innovation can be assessed and the ex-ante analysis of economic instruments, suggested by WFD for cost recovery according with polluter-pays principle, conducted. Scenario analysis is used to cope with uncertainty. The paper presents a study conducted in the Po Basin in Italy comparing the impact of a water pricing and of the EU agricultural policy reform on annual and perennial crops systems. A set of indicators quantifies important differences in social, economical and environmental dimensions and suggests to adopt selective interventions. The results permit to appreciate the relevance of the tool to generate information to support the participatory policy process of basin plan implementation. A graphical user interface, a modular architecture, an open structure, a rich set of models, standardized database, make DSIRR a flexible and powerful tool for a more sustainable agriculture and a sound water policy in agriculture. 1 INTRODUCTION There is nowadays a strong agreement that water is a strategic resource which requires protection and intervention. The 2000/60/EC Directive, known as Water Framework Directive (WFD), defines the basic principles of sustainable water policy in the European Union (EU). The Directive requires an integrated participative water resources policy, which simulation models and decision support DS should support. An impressive activity is currently observed in the field of integrated catchment modelling not only in EU. In fact the analysis and modelling of human-technology-environment systems and the implications of complexity and uncertainty for management concepts and decision making represent a promising approach which requires the contribute of scientists working in different fields and disciplines. This paper presents a program called " Decision Support for Irrigation " (DSIRR), which focuses on water use and policy in agriculture, integrating economic models …