The tradeoffs between water savings and GHG emissions in irrigated agriculture

Background: Significant concerns about the longer term impact of climate change and climate variability on water availability. •Government's water and environmental policies (such as new MDB plan and water buyback) further increasing pressure on irrigators. •The conversion of surface irrigation systems to more efficient pressurised systems has been heralded as an integral way of increasing water use efficiency. •But pressurised irrigation technologies may increase energy consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions •Policy conflicts: Water for the Future program and possible introduction of Carbon Tax/ET