Feeding Waters

Centuries-old agricultural landscapes, including the Honghe Hani Rice Terraces in China, demonstrate how adaptive practices can sustain food security, livelihoods, and biodiversity while working with natural water cycles. A comparative analysis of four traditional systems reveals their resilience stems from dynamic adaptation to environmental and socio-economic shifts, rather than rigid practices. Key lessons highlight circular water and nutrient flows, climate adaptability, the interdependence of food, ecology, and society, and the benefits of nature-based production over monocultures. However, these systems face threats from aging farming populations and urban expansion, which can disrupt their ecological foundations. The study advocates for adaptive agro-landscape planning to preserve these sustainable models in modern contexts.

Rey-Hernández, C., Ali, N., Surajara, R., & Yuan, Y. (2026). Feeding Waters. Circular Water Stories. https://doi.org/10.59490/mt.213.104