Despite major disparities between countries, agriculture is the main user, in terms of volume, of the water we take from the natural environment. However, for several decades now, in many regions of the world, and in particular in Europe and throughout the Mediterranean basin, we have been witnessing an increase in the pressure on water resources and, if not a decline in its quality, at least the presence of new contaminants as a result of human activities and climate change. In addition to the 6 million ha irrigated with controlled wastewater, about 10% of the world’s irrigated areas (30 million ha) receive uncontrolled wastewater, discharged into the environment without treatment or with only cursory treatment, whether this is due to conscious or unconscious practices, and is referred to as indirect or informal "REUSE". REUSE consists of substituting water taken from the natural environment with water that has been used for the first time and then treated for a new use. It is part of the so-called non-conventional water use solutions and is part of the circular economy principles applied to the water cycle, potentially also including the nutrient cycle. In the light of current changes, we must now take up this issue to assess its relevance, performance and impacts, and integrate any other alternatives (including source separation approaches).
Attractive and with great potential at the interface of major issues related to the fight against climate change (energy production, recycling of materials, closing of cycles, etc.), the use of REUSE and its implementation come up against many barriers that require significant research efforts. The challenges are multiple and are as much a matter of human and social sciences as of experimental and exact sciences.
2) to conduct “proof-of-concept” interdisciplinary research on specific survey sites (two countries, three crops) targeting the definition of new indicators and criteria of plant health, and identifying virtuous agronomic practices that foster plant health, especially by deciphering the microbiota in order to identify its beneficial members or interactions and to promote them, thereby reducing the use of pesticides.
Project Number : 2100-003
Year : 2021
Type of funding : SP
Project type : PC
Research units in the network : EMMAH Eco&sols MISTEA LISAH G-EAU
Start date :
01 Mar 2021
End date :
30 Mar 2022
Flagship project :
Non
Project leader :
Jérôme Harmand
Project leader's institution :
INRAE
Project leader's RU :
LBE
Budget allocated :
5000 €
Total budget allocated ( including co-financing) :
5000 €
Funding :
Labex