World scientists issue wake-up call on water and food
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Stockholm - August 19th. A "Blue Paper" Report launched today by some of the world's top agricultural scientists at the World Water Week in Stockholm highlights the difficult choices that must be made as mounting pressure from the world's growing population for more food could lead to greater water consumption and increasing environmental degradation.
While the Blue Paper accepts that more water for agriculture will be necessary in the short term, how much water, where it comes from and the environmental and social consequences of its use depend very much on decisions made in the next few years. "The bottom line is that groundwater levels are plummeting and our rivers are already overstressed, yet there is a lot of complacency about the future," explains Dr David Molden, Principal Scientist with the International Water Management Institute (IWMI). "Producing enough food from rain fed and irrigated agriculture to feed one person for a year - almost requires an Olympic size swimming pool of water. If we continue to suck our rivers dry, the effects on the environment and people's livelihoods could be calamitous." One of the most widely supported pathways towards freeing up water for the environment and other uses is to improve water productivity - which means extracting more value from each drop of water used though increased crop yields, fish production, livelihoods and environmental values. Improved crop varieties combined with better tillage methods and more precise drip or micro irrigation can reduce water consumption and make a huge difference to crop yields. Drought resistant seeds, water harvesting schemes and small plot technologies such as manually operated treadle pumps have the potential to boost yields by 100% in many areas of sub-Saharan Africa where most farmers depend on rain fed agriculture. "'If we can improve water productivity by 40% over the next twenty-five years - we'll be able to reduce the global need for extra water for irrigation to zero," explains Prof. Frank Rijsberman, Director General of IWMI. Increasing the trade of "virtual water" - or trade in food from water abundant countries to water scarce ones - is another option to be considered, but it is questionable whether low income countries will be able to afford "virtual water" and there may be negative consequences for poor farmers. In water scarce areas increasing the use of urban wastewater for irrigation is another alternative. It is estimated that up to one-tenth of the world's population eats food produced using wastewater from towns and cities. The way that policies are shaped outside of the water sector also has a significant influence on water consumption. Agricultural subsidies in the west are a major factor in keeping prices low for agricultural producers in developing countries. The main competition for water over the next century will be between agriculture and the environment. Globally, agriculture uses between 70 to 90% of developed water supplies and the livelihoods of 70% of the world's poor depend largely on farming. Despite the benefits, large-scale irrigation systems have led to pollution in rivers and the drying up of wetlands. A recent global study carried out by IWMI researchers calculated that at least 30% of the world's river flows need to be used to maintain the condition of freshwater ecosystems worldwide. The Blue Paper draws on research carried out by some of the world's leading agricultural researchers and water professionals - most of whom are associated with the Comprehensive Assessment of Water Management in Agriculture, a five year international research program that will culminate in 2006 with a state of the world report highlighting the best investment strategies that governments, farming communities and donors can make in water management over the next twenty-five years in order to meet food and environmental security goals. For further information or interview requests contact Patrick Fuller on +94 777726909 or Dave Trouba on +46 739143989 at the World Water Week in Stockholm. Download the Blue Paper (pdf). |
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