Water for Food

Agricultural activities use 70% of the planet’s fresh water resources.  As agricultural production intensifies to keep pace with population growth, more water will be needed for irrigation, especially in arid zones. The projected increase in water consumption for irrigation of 14% over the next 30 years will place significant constraints on water resources. 

Given the significant increase in water for agricultural practices there is a vast need for sustainable water management practices. Sustainable water resource management requires an understanding of water requirements for agriculture, technologies for efficient water use at scales ranging from the field to the basin, knowledge of institutions involved in agricultural water management and the impacts of climate change on agricultural water use.

Critical to sustainable practices is improved agriculture irrigation systems.  Irrigation systems range from large storage canal-fed surface systems to garden-level 'drip' irrigation.  Systems range from farmer-managed and demand driven to government-managed and often supply side oriented.  As agriculture is responsible for up to 70% of groundwater pollution and a large majority of depletion of groundwater water conservation and point and non-point source pollution control is central to sound and sustainable irrigation practices.

Water for Food: Related areas of expertise

Learn more about our partners' experience in these areas: