FARMWISE Workshop Explores Future Scenarios for Water Management in Dutch Agriculture
On 28 October28 October, FARMWISE partners hosted a focused online workshop titled “Toekomstscenario’s voor waterbeheer in de landbouw”“Toekomstscenario’s voor waterbeheer in de landbouw” or “Future scenarios for water management in agriculture” to explore how climate change, irrigation strategies, and emerging technologies will shape the future of water management in Dutch agriculture. Facilitated by Wageningen UniversityWageningen University, the session brought together 12 participants12 participants, including researchers, policymakers, provincial authorities, water boards, consultants, and representatives from regional media.
This workshop is part of FARMWISE’s ongoing effort to engage regional actors in co-developing practical, climate-resilient water solutionsco-developing practical, climate-resilient water solutions, grounded in real farm and watershed conditions. 🌱 Context & Objective🌱 Context & Objective🌱 Context & Objective The Netherlands faces increasing challenges from shifting rainfall patternsshifting rainfall patterns, more frequent droughtsmore frequent droughts, and growing pressure on water availabilitygrowing pressure on water availability for agriculture. The workshop aimed to:
Present updates on three key FARMWISE innovationsFARMWISE innovations tested in the Netherlands➤ AgroditAgrodit➤ Low-cost soil moisture sensorsLow-cost soil moisture sensors➤ Subsurface irrigation systems (incl. controlled drainage via subirrigation – innovation 9)Subsurface irrigation systems (incl. controlled drainage via subirrigation – innovation 9) Explore short- and long-term future scenariosshort- and long-term future scenarios for water availability Gather regional insightsregional insights on the suitability of new technologies Discuss opportunities and challenges in expanding stakeholder involvementexpanding stakeholder involvement
This discussion is especially important in the Dutch context, where water boards and provinces play a central role in managing both water quantitywater quantity and water qualitywater quality. 💬 Discussion Highlights💬 Discussion Highlights💬 Discussion Highlights 1️1️⃣ Impact of rainfall variability on irrigation timing⃣ Impact of rainfall variability on irrigation timing Participants noted that rapidly changing rainfall patterns complicate decisions around when and how longwhen and how long irrigation is needed. This affects not only crop performance but also regional water storage strategiesregional water storage strategies. 2️2️⃣ Effects of subirrigation on water balance⃣ Effects of subirrigation on water balance Stakeholders explored how controlled drainage and subirrigation influence the distribution of water in the soil profiledistribution of water in the soil profile, evapotranspiration rates, and the long-term stability of groundwater levelslong-term stability of groundwater levels.Regional authorities, particularly from the Limburg regionLimburg region, contributed perspectives on how these systems perform under their local conditions. 3️3️⃣ Suitability of innovation 9 under climate stress⃣ Suitability of innovation 9 under climate stress A key question raised concerned how innovation 9 (controlled drainage with subirrigation)innovation 9 (controlled drainage with subirrigation) behaves during prolonged drought periods. Participants considered:
whether its benefits are region-specificregion-specific, its compatibility with climate projectionsclimate projections, and how water boards can support adoption at scale.and how water boards can support adoption at scale.
The conversation expanded from regionalregional experiences to national-levelnational-level contrasts, highlighting the diversity of soil types, hydrological systems, and governance structures across the Netherlands. 4️4️⃣ Stakeholder engagement challenges⃣ Stakeholder engagement challenges Another topic was the practicality of expanding the stakeholder network via surveys. Several participants indicated that broader engagement may not be feasible without providing more context, guidance, and claritymore context, guidance, and clarity on how the insights will be used. 🔍 Key Insights & Emerging Conclusions🔍 Key Insights & Emerging Conclusions🔍 Key Insights & Emerging Conclusions ✔ Regional differences matter.Regional differences matter.The suitability of innovations such as controlled drainage or subsurface irrigation depends strongly on local soil types, groundwater levels, and climatic stresseslocal soil types, groundwater levels, and climatic stresses. ✔ Short-term thinking remains dominant.Short-term thinking remains dominant.Stakeholders felt more confident evaluating scenarios within the next 10–20 yearsnext 10–20 years, compared to longer-term planning horizons. ✔ Long-term adoption requires investment.Long-term adoption requires investment.Several participants emphasised that making innovations future-proof will require substantial, forward-looking investmentsubstantial, forward-looking investment, particularly for infrastructure-heavy systems like controlled drainage. ✔ Expansion of stakeholder engagement is limited.Expansion of stakeholder engagement is limited.Due to time constraints and competing priorities, participants noted that significantly expanding the network via surveys may not be realistic in the Dutch context. 🤝 Why This Matters for FARMWISE🤝 Why This Matters for FARMWISE🤝 Why This Matters for FARMWISE This workshop strengthens FARMWISE’s ambition to:This workshop strengthens FARMWISE’s ambition to:
Co-createCo-create practical, region-sensitive water solutions Bridge local knowledgeBridge local knowledge with digital and scientific tools Support water boards, provinces, and farmerswater boards, provinces, and farmers in adapting to a changing climate Ensure innovations are tested, evaluated, and contextualisedtested, evaluated, and contextualised within real-world governance and environmental conditions
These insights feed directly into FARMWISE’s modelling work, scenario development, and the refinement of digital tools for sustainable water use.These insights feed directly into FARMWISE’s modelling work, scenario development, and the refinement of digital tools for sustainable water use. 📣 How Stakeholders Can Get Involved📣 How Stakeholders Can Get Involved📣 How Stakeholders Can Get Involved FARMWISE continues to welcome participation from:FARMWISE continues to welcome participation from:
Farmers and grower associationsFarmers and grower associationsFarmers and grower associations Water boards and provincesWater boards and provincesWater boards and provinces Regional authorities and municipalitiesRegional authorities and municipalitiesRegional authorities and municipalities Irrigation specialists and environmental consultanciesIrrigation specialists and environmental consultanciesIrrigation specialists and environmental consultancies Researchers and innovation practitionersResearchers and innovation practitionersResearchers and innovation practitioners
Ways to participate include:Ways to participate include: 🔹 Joining upcoming webinars and workshopswebinars and workshops🔹 Collaborating on scenario-building activitiesscenario-building activities🔹 Providing feedback on decision-support toolsdecision-support tools🔹 Sharing regional case studiesregional case studies and challenges🔹 Helping validate innovations under real farm conditionsreal farm conditions To express interest or stay informed, please visit our Contact Contactpage.