3.1 Food Production & Water-Use Inefficiencies
As we live in an interconnected world, much of the food demand is not satisfied from local/domestic production, but is produced elsewhere and imported. Consequently, trade is a driver for the global food distribution and allocation. To provide some background information about water use for food production in such an interconnected world, the lecture starts with a short theory part about virtual water as well the concepts of telecouplings. Then, it will be provided a short primer on the importance of water for food systems, especially food production, before addressing inefficiencies in water use for agricultural production and ending with some take home messages.
3.2 Global Agriculture & Environmental Impacts
Human activities on Earth have substantial – and potentially irreversible – impacts in our natural environment. The planetary boundaries concept presents a framework to asses the degree of these impacts and hence provides a fitting theoretical underpinning for this presentation. After that, we will dive into two key environmental impacts of global food systems via food production: freshwater use and the resulting water footprint and eutrophication of surface waters due to excess nutrients from agricultural production. Before closing with some take home messages, we will link back to the planetary boundary framework and focus on water-related boundaries and how agriculture impacts these.
3.3 Payments for Ecosystem Services: Concept
In this lesson, you will learn about the concept of Payments for Ecosystem Services.
3.4 Payments for Ecosystem Services: Global Overview of Projects
In this lesson, you will be able to learn how Payments for Ecosystem Services are implemented across the world.
3.5 Introduction to Disaster Risks
In this lesson we will discuss risk related components (hazard, exposure and vulnerability) and frameworks (disaster management cycle). Through examples the dynamics of the risk components will be illustrated and how we as humans influence them.
