Nutrition and the perfect storm of water

Water-related risks and widespread malnutrition are alarming, and they are expected to affect half of the global population by 2050. Global warming and demographic factors, among others, hamper opportunities for progress. In this policy brief, we explore how food security and nutrition can be improved through a novel approach for synergy: a timely coordination of expertise to intensify sustainable food production, focusing on farmers’ livelihoods and nutrition as well as water, sanitation, and hygiene.

Lesson learned

Coordinate and combine efforts in rainfed agriculture with the addition of supplementary water, high quality seeds and fertilizers. This would ensure a high marginal productivity, stimulate an increase in the cultivation of high value and nutritious crops, reduce the risk of further encroachment of agriculture into other ecosystems, and reduce dependence on imports.

• Coordinate efforts to enhance productivity in the cultivation of staples for basic food security, with strategic support to diversify production, e.g., facilitate the use of some of the land and water for high value crops.
• Coordinate water for WASH and water for crops with a high density of nutrients (improved WASH services are likely to reduce the prevalence of diarrhoea and other infections and increase the absorption of nutrients in the food eaten).

Citation

This policy brief has been authored by Jan Lundqvist, senior scientific advisor at SIWI. It draws on: Lundqvist, J., Malmquist, L., Dias, P., Barron, J. and Wakeyo, M. 2021. Water productivity, the yield gap, and nutrition – The case of Ethiopia. Land and Water Discussion Paper 17. FAO, Rome