April 2015: The Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) and the World Water Council (WWC) released a “white paper” on water use in agriculture, in anticipation of increases in water demand and food production goals to 2050. The policy paper was published as an input to the High Level Panel on Water for Food Security, held during the Seventh World Water Forum (WWF 7) in April 2015.

Overall, the paper states that food production goals to 2050 should be achievable. However, policy shifts and investments are required to ensure that food and nutrition security is realized for the poor and most marginal populations. When considering water supplies to meet agricultural needs, the report notes, regional shortages are inevitable, even if global supplies are sufficient.

In order to manage shortages and avoid conflict over water use, the paper suggests that innovative water management approaches should be combined with new technologies and infrastructure. Investments are called for to enhance: agricultural technologies adapted to low water use; risk management in rain fed and irrigated settings; reporting and early warning systems for water governance; and water, sanitation and health infrastructure.

Other findings highlighted in the paper include: an expected increase in urban water demands, continued reliance on agriculture among many low-income rural, populations, and an ongoing trend in which agriculture accounts for about half of global water use. Combined with demographic challenges, the paper cites climate change and water degradation as additional threats to a water supply sufficient for food and nutrition security in many areas. [Publication: Towards a Water and Food Secure Future: Critical Perspectives for Policy-makers] [IISD RS Story on WWF 7]