Author(s)

C. J. Sánchez-Rubio

Abstract

The lack of water in sufficient quantity and quality is the main cause of the reduction of the irrigated area in the region studied in the province of Alicante. The irrigated area has incorporated the most advanced agricultural techniques (greenhouses) and irrigation systems for greater efficiency in water use (localized) obtaining economic, social and environmental sustainability. This vanguard agriculture is sustainable, profitable, exports on both a national scale and to the European Union, generates employment, enjoys a favourable income situation and has a set of objective conditions and advantages confirming its importance in the recent process of agrarian economy. This new agricultural irrigation has been the engine of economic and social development but it is not a final solution to solve the problems of regional imbalance. Keywords: water scarcity, irrigation, vanguard agriculture, export, profitable and sustainable. 1 Objectives This work aims to study and analyse the economic, social and environmental aspects of sustainable irrigated agriculture in areas with an arid and semi-arid climate in the province of Alicante to establish a diagnosis of the deficits, advantages and potential. Also, to address the lack of guarantee of water for agricultural use through better management and optimization of this resource: saving, reuse of reclaimed flows, desalination, and even new posts alien to recover the comparative advantages of sustainable vanguard agriculture (vegetables, citrus fruits, flowers and ornamental plants) in the domestic market and the European Union. The region studied includes both the areas with an arid

Keywords

water scarcity, irrigation, vanguard agriculture, export, profitable and sustainable.