Agriculture is the thirstiest sector by far, accounting for 70 per cent of all global freshwater withdrawals. Feeding the world population requires large volumes of water and land – resources already under increasing pressure from all sectors of the global economy.
The world is undergoing rapid changes, and with growing economies and changed lifestyles, diets change and demands for water intensive foods such as meat increase. Meeting the increased demands for food by 2050 using today’s technologies would require 50 per cent more water than is used today. Access to water already limits agriculture in some regions of the world, and climate change is bringing on new challenges such as increasing rain variability and prolonged droughts.
However, the potential for improvements is great. There are a variety of techniques, technologies and investments that can enable farmers to grow more ‘crop per drop’. The Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) estimates that investment in international agricultural research in developing countries can deliver as much 9 dollars’ worth of additional food produced for every dollar invested by finding, for example, drought-tolerant crop varieties and hardier livestock breeds that are more resilient to climactic variability. With widespread action to improve the efficient and fair use of available water resources, it is possible to sustainably double agricultural production in the coming decades.
At the 2012 World Water Week, we explored how a water smart agriculture can help feed the world.
Angles to take:
- How can farmers benefit from more sustainable – and profitable – agricultural technologies?
- How can soil and water management be improved?
- By what methods can farmers handle dry spells, droughts, and prolonged aridity?
- Can increased use of wastewater in agriculture increase production and alleviate pressure on freshwater resources?
- Can aquaculture be made sustainable and help increase food security?