Henning Bjornlund

Bio: Henning Bjornlund is an academic researcher from University of South Australia. The author has contributed to research in topics: Water conservation & Water trading. The author has an hindex of 31, co-authored 163 publications receiving 2925 citations. Previous affiliations of Henning Bjornlund include University of Lethbridge & Saint Petersburg State University.

Farmers’ climate change beliefs and adaptation strategies for a water scarce future in Australia

Abstract: Climate change is likely to require irrigators in Australia's Murray-Darling Basin to cope with less water, which will require ongoing farm adjustment. Possible incremental adjustment strategies include expansive and accommodating responses, such as irrigators buying land and water, increasing their irrigated area, changing crop mix and adopting efficient infrastructure. Contractive strategies include selling land and water, and decreasing their irrigated area. Using historical surveys we provide a comparison of irrigators’ planned and actual strategies over the past fifteen years, thereby offering a strong foundation to support analysing future adaptation strategies. We explore influences associated with farm adjustment strategies, and in particular the role that climate change beliefs play. Farmers convinced that climate change is occurring are more likely to plan accommodating, but not expansive, strategies. The relationship between climate change belief and adopting various adaptive strategies was found to be often endogenous, especially for accommodating strategies. Such results suggest the need for irrigation farming policies to be targeted at improving irrigators’ adaptability to manage water variability, and its link with farm future viability.

Aspects of water markets for developing countries: experiences from Australia, Chile, and the US

Abstract: Water market reforms are being promoted by international organisations, such as the World Bank, and pursued within many developing countries. Actual experiences with water markets are limited and the opinions regarding the beneficial or detrimental impacts diverse. It is therefore crucial to learn from the few functioning markets. Some of the longest operating, and most mature markets in the world, are to be found in Southeastern Australia. This paper examines the outcome of water trade in Southeastern Australia and combined with US and Chilean experiences outlines some lessons for the introduction of markets in developing countries.

Efficient water market mechanisms to cope with water scarcity

Abstract: Water markets are increasingly being relied upon as an instrument to reallocate water between competing users under conditions of water scarcity, and within an environment of fully committed water resources. Without such a reallocation new irrigation developments cannot take place and economic developments will be forgone to the detriment of rural communities. There is therefore a need for continued development of a water market mechanism to ensure that this reallocation process can take place as efficiently as possible, and to alleviate the socio-economic impact of water scarcity. Since markets are still emerging around the world it is important to learn from operating markets. This paper discusses the operational mechanism of a water exchange in Victoria, Australia, and analyses the outcome of the first five years of operation.

Why agricultural production in sub-Saharan Africa remains low compared to the rest of the world – a historical perspective

Abstract: Agricultural production in sub-Saharan Africa has, in recent times, remained lower than the rest of the world. Many attribute this to factors inherent to Africa and its people, such as climate, soi...