Water Demand Management Models in Agriculture: A Literature Review

This systematic literature review on water management models has provided a comprehensive overview of methodologies, revealing the approaches employed in different regions worldwide. The research identified that the watershed is the fundamental unit accepted for water resource management. Scientific development has focused on creating methodologies and tools for assessing water resources and their use in productive activities. However, a crucial question remains: How can IWRM models be effectively applied to address water security challenges and help mitigate water scarcity?

For this reason, it is essential to strengthen collaboration between academia, government, and the private sector. The synergy among these actors should be directed toward implementing clear and effective regulatory measures for water governance, promoting the development of strong policies, establishing monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, generating knowledge, and developing concrete solutions.

The analysis showed that more than 50% of the studies employed tool-based models, followed by water policies and specific practices. Scientific production varied significantly across continents, with Asia leading in the number of publications, although most of these countries face water scarcity according to the Falkenmark indicator. Europe and North America also contributed a substantial number of studies, although with varying degrees of water stress. However, the databases consulted contained relatively few publications from Latin America, highlighting comparisons with other regions worldwide. Consequently, this region was underrepresented, despite facing significant challenges in water management. Despite the significant challenges facing water management, Latin America remains underrepresented in scientific studies on the topic. The region faces multiple water-related problems, mainly linked to pollution, deforestation, and limited technological advances. Water pollution, driven by industrial and agricultural discharges and inadequate treatment of domestic wastewater, affects water quality and quantity, posing risks to both human populations and ecosystems. Furthermore, the loss of natural vegetation, particularly in watersheds, reduces water production by altering the hydrological cycle, decreasing infiltration rates, and increasing surface runoff, which favors erosion and sedimentation in water bodies.

These factors hinder sustainable water resources management, further highlighting the need for increased scientific production and policy-driven strategies tailored to the region’s specific challenges. Scientific production is linked to the availability of optimal conditions, such as funding for infrastructure and education focused on research. These factors, in turn, depend on a country's initiatives and economic conditions, such as its GDP.

A viable approach to strengthening research on water management in Latin America is fostering collaboration between local, national, and international academic institutions. Expanding these partnerships could facilitate access to global expertise and international funding sources, not only enhancing scientific research in the region but also promoting the exchange of knowledge and best practices. This would contribute to a broader understanding of local water-related challenges and support the development of solutions.

In terms of methodological approaches, a significant evolution toward an economic-social focus was observed, especially after 2015. This shift may be related to the increasing importance of industry, municipal water supply and agriculture, the primary stakeholders in blue water resources. However, the concept of water footprint, which represents the total volume of freshwater used to produce goods and services [23], introduces uncertainty in the evaluation of IWRM and supply models. This is because it primarily focuses on human consumption needs without adequately considering the water requirements of environmental systems.

In summary, this review underscores the need for more integrated and specific approaches to water management, addressing both socio-economic and environmental needs. The evolution of models and including studies in multiple languages and regions, can provide a stronger foundation for decision-making and implementing effective water resource management policies.