Inter‐Regional Food‐Water‐Income Synergy Through Bi‐Level Crop Redistribution Model Coupled With Virtual Water: A Case Study of China’s Hetao Irrigation District

Incorporating water footprints and virtual water into crop redistribution provides a new approach for efficient water resources utilization and synergistic development of water surplus and scarce regions. In this work, the absolute and comparative advantage of the production‐based blue and gray wate...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Water resources research 2024-07, Vol.60 (7), p.n/a
Main Authors: Yin, Jieling, Li, Xin, Engel, Bernie A., Ding, Jiayi, Xing, Xin, Sun, Shikun, Wang, Yubao
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Arid regions
Arid zones
bi‐level optimization model
Calories
comparative advantage
Crop production
crop redistribution
Crops
Decision making
Environmental security
Food security
Footprint analysis
Greywater
interregional synergistic optimization
Irrigation
Irrigation efficiency
Irrigation water
Optimization
Regional development
Resource management
Resource utilization
Soil water
Traditional foods
virtual water
Water
Water consumption
water footprint
Water resources
Water use
Water use efficiency
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Summary:Incorporating water footprints and virtual water into crop redistribution provides a new approach for efficient water resources utilization and synergistic development of water surplus and scarce regions. In this work, the absolute and comparative advantage of the production‐based blue and gray water footprint (PWFblue and PWFgray), the calorie‐based blue water footprint (CWFblue) and the net benefit‐based blue water footprint (NBWFblue) were used as coefficients to establish a bi‐level crop redistribution model. The mode considers upper‐level decision makers interested in maximizing food security and ecological security and lower‐level decision makers interested in water use efficiency, water use benefits and net benefits. The model was applied in the Hetao Irrigation District (HID), China. The results showed that after optimization, the PWFblue, CWFblue, NBWFblue, and gray water footprint (GWF) of the HID were reduced by 23.32%, 5.60%, 17.40%, and 6.67%, respectively. National benefits were improved, especially when considering synergistic optimization, although the net benefits of HID was affected. The calorie supply increased by 9.6 × 109 kcal, the GWF decreased by 8.29 × 106 m3, and water use efficiency and benefits were improved in China. In contrast, the calorie supply and the net benefits of the HID decreased, while the GWF increased. Moreover, multiple stakeholders were involved in crop redistribution and required national synergies. The bi‐level model proved more suitable than the multi‐objective model. The model proposed in this work considers synergies outside the region in crop redistribution within the region, and can provide new insight for water and soil resources management in arid and semi‐arid regions. Key Points Virtual water flow embedded in optimization model reflecting comparative advantage Absolute advantage and comparative advantage synergize interregional interests Bi‐level optimization model trade‐offs regional authority and sub‐regions
ISSN:0043-1397
1944-7973
DOI:10.1029/2023WR036572