Water use efficiency in agricultural irrigation in Egypt: A qualitative study on the complexities of utilising fossil groundwater resources in the face of water scarcity

Abstract: This study examines the adaptive capacity of desert farming in Egypt to imminent water scarcity and discusses the sustainability of fossil groundwater extraction. Through qualitative semi-structured expert interviews, the study identifies clear research and data gaps related to the Nubian Sandstone Aquifer System (NSAS) and highlights the need for a nuanced approach to fossil groundwater extraction that focuses on water use efficiency improvements. Economic-technological improvements in water use efficiency as well as socio-behavioural aspects of water scarcity adaptation are further identified to be vital for successfully adapting to water scarcity constraints in desert farming in arid regions.