Unsustainable Water Management in the Agricultural Sector by Samantha Espiritu

itsaaaam — 2025-03-09 09:38:35 UTC

The United Nations sustainable development goals essentially encourages businesses to assist in the global challenges that are occurring around the world. This will not only relieve some burden of stress caused by universal issues to the population, but the transparency and policies that enforce ethical decisions of companies will portray a reliable long term business. This will in turn attract future investors that align with their morals whilst also creating a more sustainable world. In the case of addressing sustainable water management in the agricultural industry, the sustainable development goals that will be addressed are goals six (clean water and sanitation) and twelve (responsible production and consumption). The ethical issues that will be encountered are unsustainable companies contributing to environmental degradation - overproduction of water/ pollution due to being blindsighted via profits. Inequality of water consumption/usage created due to low income vs high income areas, which begs the question is water a commodity or a right? This padlet aims to outline the ethical issues and implications that will be faced when encountering the sustainable development goals of six and twelve and how a business or individuals/ groups can contribute to mend/ meet these issues and goals.

itsaaaam — 2025-03-09 09:39:11 UTC

An ethical issue which corporate farming has faced in Australia is the management of water and the effects this has on the environment; this is due to the increased water demands and irrigation for agriculture. This can cause a negative effect on many things such as water systems through overuse, pollution, and habitat destruction. These issues relate back to the UNSDG of SDG 6 clean water and sanitation and SDG 12 responsible consumption and production. An example of corporate farming unsustainably using water is the Murray-Darling basin, it is one of the biggest agricultural regions in Australia responsible for a wide range of crops such as rice, cotton, fruit and much more. The use of irrigation in the Murray-Darling basin has caused an increase in salinity and erosion in the Murray and darling rivers, along with this these rivers have also been affected by pesticide run-off from the farming, this caused low oxygen levels in the water resulting in what was labelled as “the worst mass kill ever to hit the Menindee region” By Bill Ormonde and Greta Stonehouse (2023) from the ABC. This incident was the cause of the death of millions of fish and other life living in the Murray River in the Menindee region. Along with this a study by Kreibich et al ., (2024) found that “current river regulation has reduced annual streamflow by 43%” river regulation refers to the construction of dams and diversions to contain water for agriculture. The lack of streamflow is an issue as Kreibich et al., (2024) states that “without it, entire ecosystems are collapsing”. These examples are obvious examples of irresponsible consumption and production going against UNSDG 12.

A company which has come under some scrutiny for their mismanagement and overuse of water is cubbie station who are primarily involved in cotton farming, they cover over 93,000 hectares and are known for their extensive use of the water from the Murray-Darling basin. Cubbie station are licensed to take 460,000 megalitres of water annually from the Murray-Darling basin which is seen by many as unsustainable especially during times of drought which has put the company under lots of scrutiny, with articles published by The guardian and the ABC in recent times speaking on the affect that cubbie station have had on other farmers due to their overuse and storage of water and also its effects on the ecological health of the rivers.

On the other hand, Sundrop farms who primarily produce tomatoes located in south Australia have used modern technology to create a more sustainable way to improve their water management. The process they call ‘the Sundrop system’ involves the use of seawater which is taken from the nearby Gulf of St Vincent that is then used in an extensive process involving desalinisation which is powered by solar power, along with this they drip feed the water straight to the roots of the plants to ensure no water is wasted. While using these sustainable processes to produce their tomatoes according to Michael Dulaney (2017) “This one operation will eventually supply forty percent of Coles’s truss tomatoes (or, put another way, fifteen per cent of all the tomatoes in Australia) and it will do this without using pesticides, freshwater reserves or fossil fuel” thus showing that even with the use of sustainable procedures companies will still be able to mass produce, which is something that Cubbie station has struggles to do. These processes are prime examples of sustainable water management and fall under both SDG 6: clean water and sanitation and SDG 12: responsible consumption and production.

itsaaaam — 2025-03-09 09:39:55 UTC

One of the major real-world issues related to the ethical problem of sustainable water management in agriculture is Victoria’s dependence on farming, especially in the Murray-Darling Basin. This has caused serious water shortages and environmental problems. Unsustainable water use, driven by large businesses extracting too much water, is a key ethical issue. Companies contribute to this problem through inefficient irrigation, failure to follow regulations, and a focus on profit over sustainability (Ingrao et al., 2023).

A big reason for this issue is that large agricultural businesses have strong financial incentives to secure water rights, often making it harder for smaller farmers and ecosystems to get the water they need (Whittle et al., 2023). Studies show that in deregulated water markets, water is treated as a commodity. This allows big companies to outbid smaller farmers, worsening economic inequalities in rural areas. For example, in Chile’s Limarí Valley, research has shown that water markets do not always protect small farmers, and instead tend to benefit larger agricultural businesses (Hadjigeorgalis, 2008).

In Australia, a detailed review by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) found that most farmers in the southern Murray-Darling Basin did not believe that corporate involvement in water trading had been good for farming (Wheeler et al., 2020). This suggests that water markets, when not well-regulated, can make it easier for big companies to take control of water resources, making it even harder for small farmers to survive and putting pressure on rural communities.

Excessive water extraction in the Murray-Darling Basin has also caused major environmental problems, including rising soil salinity and land degradation. A 2024 report by the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) estimated that globally, 1.4 billion hectares of land are already affected by soil salinity, with another 1 billion hectares at risk (Jefferson, 2024). This problem is made worse by climate change and poor farming practices, which together can lead to crop yield reductions of up to 70% (Harvey, 2024).

The Murray-Darling Basin, which covers much of south-eastern Australia, has been particularly affected by over-extraction of water for irrigation and other uses (CSIRO, 2018). This has upset natural water cycles, reducing river flows and increasing soil salinity (Water Quality Threats | Murray–Darling Basin Authority, 2023). Research shows that the Murrumbidgee River has lost more than half its water in some areas due to dams and diversions over the last 30 years, demonstrating how water infrastructure has changed the region’s natural water flow (Cox, 2024).

As a result, soil salinity has made previously fertile land less productive, making it difficult for farmers to maintain good crop yields. In areas like the Riverland region, growing salt levels in the soil have even led to legal disputes over land degradation and financial losses (Murray-Darling Basin Authority, 2023). One example is a farming family in Riverland that is seeking around $2 million in damages from the state government. Their land became unsuitable for farming because salt from the Noora Basin—a disposal basin meant to prevent salty groundwater from entering the River Murray—spread into their fields (Hancock, 2015).

To address these challenges, the Australian government has started several programs to manage salinity and encourage sustainable farming. Initiatives such as the National Landcare Programme, the National Dryland Salinity Programme, and the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality aim to improve how water and land resources are managed (Salinity - DAFF, 2022). However, despite these efforts, some studies suggest that the situation continues to get worse. This shows that more effective strategies are still needed to properly manage water and soil health in the region.

Ultimately, excessive water extraction in the Murray-Darling Basin has led to worsening soil salinity and land degradation. This has created serious difficulties for both farmers and the environment. Solving these issues will require a balanced approach that ensures water is used wisely while protecting the land. More sustainable water management policies and better farming practices are necessary to ensure the long-term viability of agriculture in the region.

itsaaaam — 2025-03-09 09:40:26 UTC

The United Nations sustainable development goals that are relevant to sustainable water management in the agricultural industry and its ethical implications, is SDG 6: Clean water and Sanitation, and also SDG 12: Responsible consumption and production.

Key targets which are vital to this issue are the enhancing of water use efficiency where according to (Bagayas, 2024) Significant water waste reduction may be achieved by implementing technology such as precision irrigation and improving irrigation techniques. Variable-rate irrigation, for example, has been demonstrated to reduce nitrogen and phosphate leaching by 70–80%, demonstrating the advantages of precision irrigation for the environment. Additionally, (Sarvestani, 2025) states that making sure there is equitable access to water resources where policies that support equitable distribution and access are necessary to address water scarcity challenges, particularly in areas where there is a physical or financial shortage of water. This entails ensuring that disadvantaged groups are not disproportionately impacted and striking a balance between the demands of other industries and agriculture. Lastly the reduction of agricultural runoff and pollution is important to the agricultural industries, (Frontiers, 2023) suggests that It is essential to have policies in place that reduce sediment and nutrient runoff. In England, initiatives like Catchment Sensitive Farming (CSF) give farmers guidance and assistance to cut agricultural pollutants, which reduces pollutant losses in designated regions by 4–12%. The agriculture sector may assist sustainable water management that promotes social justice, economic growth, and ecological integrity by concentrating on these goals. All these key targets are relevant and require SDG 6 and 12 to be present if these targets are to be acquired in the near future.

The responsible use of water requires that businesses implement efficient water use management techniques to ensure the long-term availability of water for all. The implementation of these techniques comes with significant cost and potential risks if not done properly. For example, directly using wastewater can have huge health and environmental consequences (Al‐Hazmi et al., 2023). This because the wastewater can contain harmful bacteria, viruses and excess nutrient such as nitrogen and phosphorus, this means that businesses should treating their wastewater before reusing it. The treatment of wastewater can come with a significant initial cost depending on the volume of water that needs to be treated. However, in the long run implementing a wastewater treatment system will save a business thousands of dollars a year as they are able to reuse their water.

The implementation of wastewater management systems may not be possible for many businesses in countries that lack financial and technological resources (Al‐Hazmi et al., 2023). This makes it highly unlikely that those businesses will not be able to safely reuse their wastewater. With this the potential arises for businesses to cut corners and ignore health and safety codes to save money and could potentially lead to the health of locals or international buyers’ health being affected. There is also the possibility that the land that the untreated wastewater is used on is majorly affected. The use of untreated wastewater can cause water pollution from runoffs into urban areas, nutrient pollution causing eutrophication, algal blooms, reducing the water quality and harming the wildlife and environment.

itsaaaam — 2025-03-09 09:40:51 UTC

While acting as individuals or groups may not appear to have vast effects on the global society and environment, by performing actions to conserve water and preserve our environment, can lead to the influence of other parties. For instance, adopting ethical technologies and brands that have similar goals and views when it comes to protecting our environment and undermines the excessive usage of water. By supporting companies with policies that enforces these ideas, it will discourage other companies from contributing to global issues and dwelling in shady business. Consumers have become aware of the fact that their behaviours have implications on the environment and have grown increasingly cautious of who they associate with. This especially applies to low sustainable corporations as consumers tend to mistrust businesses that don’t indulge in corporate social responsibilities and seek a more sustainable alternative(Calderon-Monge et al., 2020). Studies have also shown that higher sustainable companies tend to generate greater stock returns than lower sustainable companies. This illustrates that having environmentally friendly ideals are likely contributors to a competitive advantage for businesses long term due to its nature of creating a loyal satisfied customer/ stakeholder base and transparency within the company(Eccles et al., 2012). While the efforts may seem minimal, these actions can lead up to factors that drastically influence corporate social responsibilities.

itsaaaam — 2025-03-09 09:42:15 UTC

It is important to highlight that water wastage and excessive waste production is an imminent global issue that Australian agricultural farms are drastically facing. From companies blindsighted by profits taking away the privileges of small agricultural farms from the necessary amounts to carry out their roles in society, to land degradation and pollution initiated by unsustainable companies. Despite these issues being caused by overpowering corporations that may have unethical policies and decisions, can be swayed with conscious consumer behaviours. In our perspective we believe these actions, whether as individuals or groups, can shift businesses from an act of egoism, and consider their long term profitability whilst also enhancing their marketing position through innovative ways to create an ethical imperative to a more viable method of managing water consumption/ usage. In doing so will create a level of transparency that attracts investors and consumers that share a similar mindset. Ultimately leading to a highly reputable and respectable business. If businesses were to fixate on the SDG’s six and twelve, it will not only promote water equity by ensuring the benefits of sustainable water shared across society but also inhibit harm to the environment and water through minimisation of waste production and water contamination.

itsaaaam — 2025-03-09 09:46:03 UTC

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