Irrigation in Baden-Württemberg

Background and Objective

Climate change is leading to rising temperatures, altered precipitation patterns, and more frequent extreme weather events. For Germany, climate models predict more precipitation, but the timing is shifting from summer to winter. This reduces water availability during the growing season, which can lead to yield losses and deteriorated crop quality. The risk for droughts, like those experienced from 2018 to 2020, is also expected to increase.

Irrigation can help secure crop yields by mitigating the effects of climate change, but it is associated with high costs. Additionally, agriculture competes with other sectors for regional water resources.

The aim of the project is to assess the current state of agricultural irrigation and associated subsidies in the state of Baden-Württemberg, as well as to quantify the future impacts of climate change on the demand for agricultural irrigation and frost protection (Phase I). Building on this, the project will analyze the economics of irrigation and evaluate the effects of potential adaptation strategies (Phase II, subject to approval).

Target Group

Policymakers, agricultural producers, advisors, regional water associations, chamber of agriculture, interested professionals and the general public, science

Approach

To achieve the project goals, the following work packages are included:

Phase I:

• Review of existing research and presentation of agricultural irrigation practices in Baden-Württemberg.
• Modeling the regional irrigation needs for relevant agricultural crops in the past and projecting their future development.
• Modeling and analysis of regional water demand for frost protection irrigation.
• Analysis of existing relevant funding programs in Baden-Württemberg and identifying areas for improvement.
• Discussion of results with practitioners and experts.

Phase II:

• Scenario-based analysis of adaptation strategies for irrigation agriculture in response to climate change.
• Economic analyses regarding the viability of irrigation for different crops.

Data and Methods

The project is based on a comprehensive analysis of existing data, relevant literature, and regional information. The irrigation needs, viability, and water requirements for frost protection irrigation will be determined using model approaches. Scenario-based climate change impact assessments will be conducted using regionalized climate projections. The development and application of the model for Baden-Wuerttemberg are based on the work of the LAWAMAD project.

Preliminary Results

As shown by previous studies conducted in the federal states of Hessia, Bavaria, and North Rhine-Westphalia, the agricultural irrigation demand has increased in the past and is expected to continue to rise. This project analyses the current status and future development of agricultural irrigation and the effectiveness of adaptation strategies in Baden-Wuerttemberg.

The results can serve as an information base and decision support tool for ministries, authorities, consultants, and associations in designing and implementing agricultural and water policy measures, all the way to developing adaptation strategies for agricultural enterprises. Additionally, these results can form a basis for the targeted expansion of cooperative irrigation infrastructure, contributing to climate change adaptation and securing food production. Insights into the irrigation economics of specific crops and the water demands for frost protection irrigation will aid in developing risk management strategies at both the business and state level, including multi-risk insurance solutions.