The AquaCrop model - Enhancing crop water productivity: Ten years of development, dissemination and implementation 2009-2019

Water resources are linked to food insecurity, poverty, climate change adaptation, and mitigation. FAO works towards sustainable development by promoting efficient, productive, and sustainable water management. AquaCrop, the FAO crop-water productivity model, assists in assessing the effects of environment and management on crop production by simulating yield response to water. It was launched in 2009 and has evolved to balance accuracy, simplicity, and robustness, making it a valuable tool for practitioners and research scientists.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 106 pages
Publication date: 30 March 2022
Publisher: Food & Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

Water resources are intricately intertwined with the global challenges of food insecurity, poverty, and climate change adaptation and mitigation. In alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SGD), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is actively pursuing various dimensions of sustainable development, including the promotion of coherent approaches to efficient, productive, and sustainable water management at farm to river basin scales. To achieve this, FAO is enhancing well-informed on-the-ground decision-making processes in water management through a range of projects, knowledge advancement, information-sharing, and tool development. One notable example is AquaCrop, the FAO crop-water productivity model.

AquaCrop was officially launched by FAO in 2009, as the culmination of several years of collaborative work among scientists, water and crop specialists, and practitioners from around the world. This initiative aimed to bring together previously fragmented information on crop yields in response to water use and water deficit. Since its first launch, AquaCrop has undergone several iterations, but it has consistently maintained its balance between accuracy, simplicity, and robustness. This has allowed it to remain faithful to its primary goal, which is to serve as a dynamic tool accessible to a wide range of users, primarily practitioner-type end users, from different disciplines, and for a diverse array of applications.

In addition to its practical utility, AquaCrop holds significant value for research scientists as well. It serves as a valuable tool for analysis and conceptualization, enabling researchers to better understand the complex relationships between water, crops, and the environment. By simulating yield response to water of herbaceous crops, AquaCrop helps researchers to evaluate the effects of various environmental factors, such as atmospheric CO2 concentration, on crop production. This information is crucial for developing sustainable agricultural practices and adapting to changing climate conditions.

Overall, AquaCrop plays a pivotal role in addressing the global challenges of water scarcity, food security, and climate change. Its collaborative development, combined with ongoing improvements and updates, ensures that it remains a valuable asset for practitioners, researchers, and policymakers alike. By promoting sustainable water management practices and providing insights into crop productivity, AquaCrop contributes to the achievement of the SGD and the overall well-being of societies worldwide.

Weight: 312g
Dimension: 257 x 296 x 10 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9789251352229