The Stream, May 27: The Global Food Market

The dire drought in central and southern China may hit the grain output in major food growing regions and put upward pressure on global prices, but China’s domestic wheat stocks will keep food imports low, according to a Reuters analysis. Read Circle of Blue’s report on China’s looming water-energy-food collision.

Agriculture
Yet, the World Meteorological Organization says that the global food output may suffer from climate extremes, with China likely set for harsher droughts and North America getting heavier rainfall, according to Bloomberg.

Despite growing use of desalinated and treated water, and heavy investment in irrigation technology, agricultural water use continues to rise in Spain at the expense of groundwater resources, Global Water Intelligence reports.

Science
An analysis of sediments from the Moon indicates that its interior holds far more water than previously thought. The discovery challenges some of the theories of the Moon’s formation, the BBC reports.

Transboundary Water
An Iraqi government spokesman has said that Turkey’s restriction of water flows along rivers through to Iraq was “unacceptable” and urged the two countries to sign a water agreement, the AFP reports.

Water and energy are on the agenda of the European Union’s Strategy for Central Asia, EurasiaNet reports.

Australia
The Economist gives an overview of Australia’s fragile relationship with its environment and the heavy investment behind it.

The Stream is a daily digest spotting global water trends. To get more water news, follow Circle of Blue on Twitter and sign up for our newsletter.