Impacts of Bioenergy Crops On Water Quantity and Quality.

There are major expectations that bioenergy will supply large amounts of CO₂-neutral energy in the future. Large-scale expansion of herbaceous and woody bioenergy crops could lead to significant negative impacts on current water reserves and water quality. This is particularly true in countries that already in a water stressed condition because of climate and human population needs. If Best Management Practices are not used in bioenergy crop production, water quality may deteriorate and exacerbate existing water problems. There are countries and regions within some countries where water impacts from bioenergy programs will be minimal. In others the impacts will be significant and result in conflicts between water use for fiber production, food production, and municipal demands. Planning for bioenergy programs must incorporate analyses of potentially competing demands for water. This paper examines this situation in the context of the food/fiber-energy-water nexus.