14.05.2019
Summer School in Tashkent: Sustainability Assessment of the Water-Energy-Food Nexus for Irrigated Agriculture - Interdisciplinary Approaches in Central Asia (WEFCA)
Central Asia is a very dry region with severe water scarcity. Competition for water use exists, for example, between irrigated agriculture and energy production in hydropower plants. In addition, agricultural irrigation itself is very energy-intensive and is associated with soil degradation and other significant environmental disasters (drying up of large parts of the Aral Sea). The three areas of water, energy and food must therefore be considered together in order to develop sustainable solutions for the current competing uses.
The aim of the summer school was to teach interdisciplinary research methods for the analysis and sustainability assessment of the Water-Energy-Food Nexus in irrigated agriculture in Central Asia. Doctoral students and postdoctoral researchers from natural and social science disciplines have jointly learned and applied new methods of integrated land use and sustainability assessment.
The summer school brought together 35 participants from all Central Asian countries except Turkmenistan: Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Afghanistan as well as India, Colombia, Ethiopia and Germany. Financed by the Volkswagen Foundation, the summer school was organised by ZALF and hosted by the Tashkent Institute of Irrigation and Agricultural Mechanisation Engineers (TIIAME) during 29 April – 5 May 2019. Interdisciplinary approaches in teaching and research in Central Asia have so far been uncommon. The participants of the summer school were therefore able to investigate severe sustainability problems in their regions using the latest research approaches. The Summer School contributed to the revival of international cooperation in research and teaching between the countries of Central Asia and is thus an important step in the joint development of future solutions.
More information about the program and lecturers:
