Project
Interactive dashboard for food and water security
In 2022 we created a Digital Twin of the global water and food system. The twin is updated monthly with Climate Data from the Copernicus Data Store. Moreover, with seasonal forecasting it is able to make predictions of food production and water use in the near future. This information is used to indicate risks for water and food security in a country, region or on a global scale. Different indicators can be derived from the model output, for example food production per capita, water use per calorie or the (expected) variance in yield. By combining the biophysical data with trade data from FAO, we are also able to estimate the effects of climate related yield decrease on other countries. From a research point of view these indicators are interesting to understand the effect of climate variability and climate change on the water and food system. However, we would also like to show specific indicators that are useful NGOs, governments and other potential end-users. Besides, to understand an indicator, the visualization is important.
The objective of this project is to define useful indicators from the developed Digital Twin and design and interactive dashboard in close collaboration with end-users. Three steps can be identified within this project: i) create a list of potential end-user; ii) collaborate with the end-users during workshops or interviews and; iii) design a dashboard based on the outcomes of the workshop. The ambition is to contribute to climate action and climate adaptation decision making in several ways. First, the dashboard will be tailored to the needs of the end-users and therefore a tool for their decision making. Second, the dashboard can function as an early warning system and can point out which areas are highly vulnerable for the effects of climate variability and change on water and food security. Solutions for adaptation can then focus on these areas.