농업부문 가상수(virtual water) 도입 및 활용을 위한 기초연구

Abstract

물은 인간의 기본적인 생활을 유지하는데 필수적인 요소이며 동시에 다음 세대를 위해 지속적인 관리와 개발이 필요한 자원이다. 향후 인구 증가 및 수질 악화 등의 요인으로 인해 전 세계적으로 물 부족과 관리에 대한 관심이 어느 때보다 높아지고 있는 실정이다. 이러한 상황에서 농작물, 가공식품을 만드는 데 사용되는 물을 의미하는 가상수 개념과 물의 이력을 포함하는 물발자국은 기존 공급 중심의 물관리 정책에서 수요 중심의 관리로 전환하는 데 도움이 될 수 있으며, 소비 및 교역 정책 등과의 연계를 통해 국가 수자원 정책 수립에 유용한 자료로 활용될 것으로 기대된다. 가상수 및 물발자국 개념의 도입은 기존 공급중심의 물 문제에 대한 인식을 확대시켜 보다 거시적이고 통합적인 관점에서 농업용수 관리에 대한 기초자료를 제공할 수 있으며 국내 농업 부문 도입에 대한 연구가 필요하다.

본 연구는 농업 부문에 가상수 개념의 농업 부문 도입 및 활용을 위한 기초 연구로서 가상수 및 물발자국에 관한 이론 검토, 수자원장기종합계획의 농업용수 사용량과의 비교, 국내외 가상수 적용사례를 통해 국내 농업 부문에 가상수 개념 도입을 위한 기초적인 자료 및 시사점을 제시하였다.

Background of Research As a basic study, the purpose of this research is to provide materials and data to introduce virtual water to the agriculture sector by reviewing the virtual water and water footprint theories, comparing agriculture water consumption estimates in long-term water resource plans and reviewing both domestic and international cases where virtual water has been applied.

Method of Research This research report consists of 5 chapters. First, chapter 1 shows the necessity of the study and the methods used, and it contains a review of related works. In chapter 2, we explain the concepts of virtual water and water footprint, and review the methods of calculating domestic and foreign virtual water. We also review international cases. In chapter 3, we deduce the policy by calculating and comparing water footprints and agriculture water demands and calculate and analyze domestic food production and virtual water consumption using domestic and international cases of virtual water implementation, and we also draw implications for implementing domestic virtual water based on an analysis of the changes in virtual water consumption according to a consumption scenario, water earnings, and consumption that considers virtual water. In chapter 4, we conduct a virtual water trade analysis based on the results of free trade agreements. We also conduct a water efficiency analysis which can be useful to policy makers who make decisions related to agricultural water management. Lastly, chapter 5 consists of a summary and conclusion.

Research Results and Implications The primary results and implications of this research are as follows: The virtual water consumption for production generally showed increasing tendencies, mainly due to the increased production of livestock products (mostly meat). The additional agricultural virtual water consumption required to meet the food self-sufficiency goals is expected to be 1,090.3 million m3 for 2015 and 920.0 million m3 for 2020. Based on the results of virtual water earnings and consumption, using the water footprint theory, the expected decrease in virtual water consumption due to the KOR·US FTA is 304 million m3, while the expected decrease of virtual water consumption due to the KOR·EU FTA is 85 million m3. When both free trade agreements are considered at the same time, the expected decrease in virtual water consumption is 389 million m3, while the decreased amount of agricultural water is 13% of dry field water. The water efficiency index which considers virtual water and distinguishes industry sectors with high agricultural water efficiency from industry sectors with low agricultural water efficiency can provide useful information when considering policies that distribute water to areas with high water efficiency.

Researchers: Yoon-Hyung Kim, Hong-Sang Kim, Jeong-Seung Kim Research Period: 2012. 1～2012. 12 E-mail address: yonhk2@krei.re.kr