Why is desalination not likely to be a significant source of water for argiculture in the foreseeable future?

Question

Why is desalination not likely to be a significant source of water for argiculture in the foreseeable future?

Answer 1

Not sure where you get your information from ..

Cost is the only real reason it's not as widespread as it could be .. (any limitation in the availability of electrical power is simply another way of saying cost ..) .. plainly it's cheaper to simply pump water out of the ground or capture rainwater (from rivers) or even clean and recycle domestic waste water...

Lack of water is already limiting agriculture in many areas of the world and as food prices increase it will become more and more cost effective to pay for desalination ..

Many countries (eg Australia) could significantly increase agricultural output if more water was available for irrigation ....  

Plainly countries with no access to the coast will have to pay a premium price for water from those who do have access, however the is no real reason why 'we' can not have as much fresh water as we like ....

Answer 2

It comes down to simple economics.  All processes currently in use to produce potable water from sea water require large amounts of power to function, making the water relatively expensive (compared to fresh water treatment facilities normally used by municipalities and other governmental entities).  While this cost makes sense for drinking and even bathing water, it is not yet cost effective for agriculture.