Conclusion

Global patterns of water shortages are occurring more frequently at local and national levels, with widespread implications for human and economic development. The largest user of water, the agricultural sector, is facing growing pressure to reduce its unsustainable practices, at national and global level. Whilst global and regional governance has prioritised institutional water rights at the Dublin Conference, solutions for the water crisis remain within resource management. Implications of water shortages are global and can exacerbate pre-existing conditions of underdevelopment, high population growth & poverty in regions such as MENA and result in disasters i.e. conflict & displacement. 

Regional economic giants, KSA & Israel/OPT, are investing in solutions to address their national water shortages. In order to maintain and increase water yield, KSA is adopting unsustainable application of dams, desalination and continued over-use of precious aquifers, which has ecological implications. Contrastingly, Israel/OPT adoption of increasing water productivity at lower yields via drip irrigation is more sustainable approach on all levels (technologically, economically & environmentally). Drip irrigation is a readily applicable agricultural practice and within the technological capacities of most nations, resulting in a growing international application, support and policies. 

Which is agricultural system is more sustainable? 

Evidentally, the Israeli/OPT drip-irrigation system is significantly more sustainable as it addresses the environmental impacts of agriculture and aims to reduce excess water use, compared to the KSA's method of increasing use by employing expensive technology. However, maintaining water resources is vital for both these countries as it supplies the capitalist development and ventures they benefit from.  

Technological and political cooperation will be essential to promote sustainable practices at national and regional scale which are sensitive to the ecology to be able to reduce the potential disasters of water crisis at a global level. 

Recommended sites related to the topic:

• "Greening the Desert," National Geographic
• "Grow more with less (drip-irrigation)," Netafim
• "Food supply crisis and the role of Agriculture in the Middle East and North Africa," Dr. Gamal Siam
• "Ancient Agriculture," Wikipedia
• "Sustainable Agriculture," Hannah Gould (the Guardian)

Comments are welcome below



[1] Saudi Arabia is located in an extreme desert without any surface watercourses or bodies. Israel/OPT is semi-arid (50% desert type land) with annual fluctuation of precipitation.

[2] Social and personal values of Israeli/OPT agriculture has allowed it to be prioritised within the national economy, with fairly low rates of importing (less than 25%), but water scarcity is increasing this rate (as with KSA). 

[3] KSA is the largest producer of desalinated water in the world, with 30 plants across the Arabian Gulf and Red Sea.

[4] A form of irrigation that uses a perforated pipe to deliver water directly to the soil around the roots of each plant, in order to minimize losses by evaporation and to eliminate runoff and soil erosion.