POLICIES: THE BEDROCK OF SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL VIRTUAL WATER TRADE

Citation: Igbaroola, A. H. (2025). Policies: The bedrock of sustainable agricultural virtual water trade. In Managing the modern organization: Technology, sustainability, and global challenges. M. Dobska (Ed.), pp. 75–84. Polskie Towarzystwo Ekonomiczne Oddział w Poznaniu. ISBN 978-83-971158-8-0.  https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.29222648

Policies play a pivotal role in shaping the dynamics and sustainability of agricul tural virtual water trade. This paper examines how diverse policy interventions, such as trade tariffs and water pricing, as well as subsidies and laws supporting water-efficient technology, influence the trends and sustainability of agricultural virtual water trade in various nations and regions. Using a comparative analysis of five selected articles published between 2004 and 2023, this research provides a bibliometric and thematic exploration of how policy measures impact agricul tural virtual water trade. The selected articles offer diverse perspectives, collectively highlighting the intricate interplay between policy interventions and sustainable water use. These findings highlight the significance of incorporating social, economic, and environmental objectives into policy frameworks. Water efficiency should be given top priority in agricultural trade agreements, high water produc tivity crops should be encouraged and traded, and water consumption monitoring systems should be put in place. In order to ensure fair water distribution and lessen the detrimental effects of agricultural virtual water trade on freshwater supplies worldwide, specific actions are crucial. This work adds to the body of literature by highlighting a thorough, lifecycle based approach to agricultural water usage poli cymaking. For sustainable agricultural virtual water trade, these findings have stra tegic, social, and practical consequences by addressing both national and international components.