CEU Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2012
| Author | Shi, Jin |
|---|---|
| Title | Recent Evolution of Crop-related Virtual Water Trade Network of China and Policy Implications |
| Summary | In this paper, the virtual water trade associated with 27 major primary crops of China over the period of time 1986 – 2009 has been calculated and the virtual water trade network been analyzed. The results show that the crop-related virtual water import of China has increased dramatically during the studied period of time; there is a net virtual water import from water resource relatively abundant areas of North and South Americas, and a net virtual water export towards water resource relatively stressful areas of Asia, Africa, and Europe. Virtual water import is far larger than virtual water export and in both import and export a rather small number of trade partners control the whole trade. Grain crops are the major contributors of the total virtual water trade and among grain crops, soybeans (mostly imported from USA, Brazil and Argentina) take the most prominent role. As crop water use efficiencies in North and South Americas are generally higher than those in Asia and Africa, the effect of China’s crop-related virtual water trade positively contributes to optimizing world crop water use efficiency. In order to mitigate water scarcity and secure food supply, virtual water strategy should be actively incorporated into national integrated water management. China should reduce export of water-intensive crops and increase import of them. But the source of virtual water import need to be further diversified to strengthen market power and crop structure especially in water stressed North China Plain also need to be adjusted. |
| Supervisor | Pinter Laszlo, Liu Junguo |
| Department | Environment Sciences and Policy MSc |
| Full text | https://www.etd.ceu.edu/2012/shi_jin.pdf |
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