The intensification of agriculture over the past century was achieved by the introduction of crop varieties (breeding programs), fertilization and irrigation, three of the main pillars of the Green Revolution. In fact, agricultural production is currently accountable for 85% of global water consumption and is projected to double by 2050. The irrigated area is expected to rise by a factor of 1.9 by 2050 (Pfster et al., 2011). However, irrigated agriculture in many parts of the world, especially in semi-arid and arid regions, is under threat due to the current and expected shortage of fresh water, facilitated by the ever-increasing demand for fresh water for direct use (i.e. domestic and industrial), the rapidly growing global population and increasing demand for food production, and especially meat and dairy products. As climate change progresses, the prevalence and intensity of global water shortages is predicted to increase, thereby highlighting the need for alternative sources of water.