The iGains4Gains model guides irrigation water conservation and allocation to enhance nexus gains across water, food, carbon emissions, and nature

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dc.creatorLankford, B.
dc.creatorAmdar, Nafn
dc.creatorMcCartney, Matthew P.
dc.creatorMabhaudhi, T.
dc.date2025-03-01
dc.date2025-02-16T03:55:49Z
dc.date2025-02-16T03:55:49Z
dc.date.accessioned2026-06-27T18:24:40Z
dc.descriptionThis paper introduces and applies iGain4Gains, an Excel-based model, to reveal how changes to water conservation and allocation, and irrigation technology, can produce four nexus gains. These gains are; reduced aggregate water consumption, sustained crop production, lower carbon emissions, and enhanced water availability for nature. We developed the model with limited data and hypothetical future scenarios from the Amman–Zarqa basin in Jordan. Given its significant irrigation and urban water demands and difficult decisions regarding future water allocation and nexus choices, this basin is a highly appropriate case study. The paper’s primary aim is to demonstrate the iGains4Gains nexus model rather than to build an accurate hydrological model of the basin’s water resources. The model addresses two critical questions regarding increased irrigation efficiency. First, can irrigation efficiency and other factors, such as irrigated area, be applied to achieve real water savings while maintaining crop production, ensuring greenhouse gas emission reductions, and ‘freeing’ water for nature? Second, with the insight that water conservation is a distributive/allocative act, we ask who between four paracommoners (the proprietor irrigation system, neighbouring irrigation systems, society, and nature) benefits hydrologically from changes in irrigation efficiency? Recognising nexus gains are not always linear, positive and predictable, the model reveals that achieving all four gains simultaneously is difficult, likely leading to trade-offs such as water consumption rebounds or increased carbon emissions. Demonstrated by its use at a workshop in Jordan in February 2024, iGains4Gains can be used by students, scientists and decision-makers, to explore and understand nexus trade-offs connected to changes in irrigation management. The paper concludes with recommendations for governing water and irrigated agriculture in basins where large volumes of water are withdrawn and depleted by irrigation.
dc.identifierhttps://hdl.handle.net/10568/173071
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/123456789/154974
dc.languageen
dc.publisherIOP Publishing
dc.rightsOpen Access
dc.sourceLankford, B.; Amdar, Nafn; McCartney, Matthew; Mabhaudhi, T. 2025. The iGains4Gains model guides irrigation water conservation and allocation to enhance nexus gains across water, food, carbon emissions, and nature. Environmental Research: Food Systems, 2(1):015014. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1088/2976-601X/adabe9]
dc.subjectirrigation water
dc.subjectwater conservation
dc.subjectwater allocation
dc.subjectmodels
dc.subjectwater use
dc.subjectfood security
dc.subjectcarbon
dc.subjectgreenhouse gas emissions
dc.subjectnexus approaches
dc.subjectclimate change
dc.subjectirrigated farming
dc.subjectirrigation technology
dc.subjectirrigation efficiency
dc.titleThe iGains4Gains model guides irrigation water conservation and allocation to enhance nexus gains across water, food, carbon emissions, and nature
dc.typeJournal Article

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Instituto Internacional para el Manejo del Agua (IWMI)