Water Stewardship: A Pathway to Sustainable Agricultural Futures

Water Stewardship: Defining Responsible Water Use

Water stewardship refers to responsible water management that ensures equitable and sustainable water use for people, the planet, and economies. It’s a voluntary commitment from users to understand and mitigate their water-related impacts, adopt sustainable practices, and collaborate with others to achieve better outcomes.

In the agricultural context, water stewardship promotes farmers and agricultural businesses to consider the entire water cycle - where water comes from, how it’s used, identifying risks related to climate variability, and the downstream impacts. This involves using efficient irrigation methods, reducing water pollution from runoff, and conserving freshwater ecosystems. The stewardship approach moves beyond the individual farm level to encourage collaboration across the whole of the catchment enabled by a stakeholder inclusive process, working with local authorities and communities.

Water Stewardship Asia Pacific (WSAP) has been at the forefront of implementing strategies that enhance sustainable water management across agricultural landscapes. By adopting innovative frameworks like "Commoning" and systems thinking, Water Stewardship provides a holistic approach to addressing water-related challenges in agriculture.

Commoning: Collective Management of Shared Resources

The idea of commoning, grounded in Elinor Ostrom’s work on the governance of common resources, emphasises the need for collective management of resources that are used by multiple stakeholders. This approach addresses the “tragedy of the commons” where individual users, acting in their self-interest, deplete a shared resource to the detriment of all.

In agriculture, the commoning framework encourages farmers to see themselves as part of a larger ecosystem, where their water use practices directly affect neighbouring farms, local communities, and broader ecosystems. This sense of shared responsibility fosters cooperative management and reduces competition for water resources.

By implementing commoning principles, Water Stewardship helps create frameworks for local water governance that include diverse perspectives. Farmers, First Nations communities, environmental advocates, and water managers collaborate to create systems that benefit all, ensuring equitable water distribution, preservation of ecosystems, and long-term sustainability.

Systems Thinking: Tackling Complexity in Agriculture

Systems thinking is a powerful tool that allows us to understand the interconnectedness of different elements within a system. In agriculture, this approach involves recognising how water use, land management, crop selection, and biodiversity are interrelated and affect the long-term sustainability of farming practices.

Through systems thinking, water stewardship goes beyond the simple allocation of water resources. It involves a thorough understanding of the whole agricultural ecosystem, including soil health, climate patterns, and social factors such as local community needs and governance structures.

Water Stewardship uses systems thinking to design strategies that are both flexible and adaptive. For example, in regions facing drought, rather than focusing solely on reducing water consumption, systems thinking encourages an integrated approach that includes selecting drought-resistant crops, improving soil moisture retention, and promoting community-level resilience.

Renmark, SA, Case Study: Collective Irrigation Management in Australia

In Renmark, South Australia, where water scarcity is a significant issue, farmers have adopted water stewardship principles alongside community-driven management. Water-sharing agreements among farming communities have led to better irrigation efficiency, reducing the strain on local rivers and groundwater. Farmers collaborate through water user associations to manage infrastructure and monitor water quality, embodying both commoning and systems thinking principles.

By integrating these approaches, the farmers have been able to balance their water needs with environmental protection, increasing their resilience to climate change.

Challenges and Opportunities

Despite its potential, employing a water stewardship approach in agriculture faces challenges:

• Institutional Barriers: Regulatory frameworks often focus on top-down water management, making it difficult for communal and systems-based approaches to thrive.
• Knowledge Gaps: Many farmers may lack the knowledge or resources to adopt new water stewardship practices.
• Power Dynamics: Unequal access to water resources, particularly in regions where large agribusinesses dominate, can undermine commoning efforts.

However, opportunities for progress include:

• Technological Innovations: Tools like remote sensing and data analytics can help monitor water use and improve decision-making.
• Policy Support: Governments can incentivise water stewardship management through subsidies, tax breaks, or technical assistance.
• Capacity Building: Training programs for farmers and local communities can promote systems thinking and collaborative management.

Towards a Sustainable Agricultural Future

Water stewardship, grounded in frameworks like commoning and systems thinking, is essential for creating resilient agricultural systems capable of withstanding the challenges of climate change and resource scarcity. By fostering collaboration and promoting a holistic understanding of agricultural ecosystems, Water Stewardship is paving the way toward a sustainable agricultural future.

Through these innovative frameworks, farmers are empowered to make decisions that benefit both their land and the broader community, ensuring that future generations have access to the water resources necessary for life and livelihood.

The ongoing work of Water Stewardship Asia Pacific demonstrates that sustainable water management in agriculture is not just possible, but essential. By integrating collective action and systemic understanding, the agricultural sector can continue to thrive while protecting one of our planet's most precious resources - water.