Large-scale irrigation systems (LIS) are massively utilized in agriculture worldwide to ensure food security and mitigate the effect of global warming. LIS face unpredictable changes in climate, technologies, and societal tendencies during their lifetime, potentially becoming unusable or insufficient. In this case study of Slovenia, the evolution of LIS was divided into five characteristic periods in terms of motivation, mechanisms, and the key stakeholders. The heyday of LIS development in the late 1980s was followed by denationalization and privatization, and construction was replaced by measures for improving the status irrigation at the state level. Simultaneously, there was a shift in global development towards modernization as LIS should be adaptive to changes throughout their existence in order to preserve their functionality. The construction of LIS resumed less intensively in the European Union during 2007–2013, with recognition of effective LIS functioning as necessity. This study confirms that irrigation development follows the global imperative focus on more effective use of the existing LIS along with simultaneous reduction in the environmental impact of agricultural production through smarter use of water, nutrients, and plant protection products. This should be achieved by organized LIS users, increased knowledge, efficient LIS maintenance and management, and improved connections to the local markets.

中文翻译：

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推动欧盟的灌溉发展*

大规模灌溉系统 (LIS) 在世界范围内的农业中被大量使用，以确保粮食安全并减轻全球变暖的影响。LIS 在其生命周期中面临着气候、技术和社会趋势不可预测的变化，可能变得无法使用或不足。在斯洛文尼亚的这个案例研究中，LIS 的演变在动机、机制和关键利益相关者方面分为五个特征时期。1980 年代后期 LIS 发展的鼎盛时期紧随其后的是非国有化和私有化，建设被国家层面改善灌溉状况的措施所取代。同时，全球发展向现代化转变，因为 LIS 应该适应其存在过程中的变化以保持其功能。2007 年至 2013 年，欧盟对 LIS 的建设恢复较少，认识到有效的 LIS 功能是必要的。这项研究证实，灌溉发展遵循全球迫切需要更有效地利用现有 LIS，同时通过更智能地使用水、养分和植物保护产品来减少农业生产对环境的影响。这应该通过有组织的 LIS 用户、增加知识、高效的 LIS 维护和管理以及改善与当地市场的联系来实现。本研究证实，灌溉发展遵循全球迫切需要更有效地利用现有 LIS，同时通过更智能地使用水、养分和植物保护产品来减少农业生产对环境的影响。这应该通过有组织的 LIS 用户、增加知识、高效的 LIS 维护和管理以及改善与当地市场的联系来实现。本研究证实，灌溉发展遵循全球迫切需要更有效地利用现有 LIS，同时通过更智能地使用水、养分和植物保护产品来减少农业生产对环境的影响。这应该通过有组织的 LIS 用户、增加知识、高效的 LIS 维护和管理以及改善与当地市场的联系来实现。