Environmental indicator-based analysis of water use in european agriculture. A critical review

Abstract

Environmental indicators have become the vehicles of the technical and scientific information available at all times in order to facilitate, among other tasks, those of politicians and managers, who must make decisions on the sustainable use of natural resources in different sectors of activity. Indicator systems must represent the reality of the moment, which is why they can and must vary over time as circumstances change. The present study reviews, both descriptively and in view of the results provided, the indicators used in Europe over the last twenty years to describe the use of water resources in agricultural activities. It is highlighted here that the selection of indicators should be based on such key issues as political significance; responsiveness for correction of the detected situation, if necessary; analytical soundness; data availability and measurability and ease of interpretation and profitability. The identification of possible data sources and the compatibility between them have been a central issue that has not always been well resolved. Agriculture and water are sustainable development goals (SDGs) of the 2030 UN Agenda. Neither sustainable water management (SDG6) nor sustainable agriculture (SDG2) can be achieved independently and both are now awaiting the “assistance” of well-crafted indicators. It is to be hoped that the experience of recent years will be useful.

Keywords: agri-environmental indicators, water resources, efficient use.