The globalization of Mediterranean agriculture: A long-term view of the impact on water consumption

The countries in the Mediterranean basin increasingly specialized in Mediterranean agricultural products for exports throughout the twentieth century. In this context, the main objective of this paper is to quantify and discuss on the impacts that this growing Mediterranean exports specialization generated on water resources over the last century. To that aim, we focus on the water embodied in Mediterranean exports, the trends followed by dams' construction and the area equipped for irrigation as well as on the evolution of blue water stress. Our findings point at an intense expansion of Mediterranean virtual water exports between 1910 and 2010 that went along with the construction of water infrastructure. It enabled water-intensive crops to be grown in arid regions, but also, exacerbated blue water stress. We also find important regional divergences, highlighting the role of Spain as a super exporter of Mediterranean crops. Finally, we observe that the trends and patterns of trade flows and the subsequent pressures on water resources are highly conditioned by political, economic and technological developments.

Automated summary

The paper explores the impact of Mediterranean agricultural exports specialization on water resources over the last century, finding a significant increase in virtual water exports accompanied by the construction of water infrastructure. It highlights the exacerbation of blue water stress, regional divergences, and the influence of political, economic, and technological developments on trade flows and water resource pressures.