La crisis del agua y su uso en la agricultura

Abstract

Water is a common symbol of humanity, social equity and justice; however, its shortage, scarcity, unequal distribution, competition for its use, pollution, climate change, and lack of an ethical regulatory framework have led to its global crisis. Access to water is a fundamental right linked to the right to health, the environment and food; the latter is closely related to intensive agriculture. The agricultural sector is the main supplier of food worldwide, but it is also the one that uses the largest amount of freshwater available for human consumption (70 %). Therefore, the aim is to analyze the water crisis from its ethical dilemmas, with special emphasis on the problem of water use in agriculture, as well as to establish a proposal for an efficient use of this substancein food production. This review shows the need for strategies for the proper management and efficient use of water, both in agriculture and in other economic sectors, based not only on a legal framework but also on an ethical framework, in which all those responsible for the water crisis participate in the search for solutions.