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Global water demand will increase, create competition

A new report says the global demand for water will continue to increase because of a growing population and will also create a competition across agriculture and urban sectors.

Mark Rosegrant, the lead author of study by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, says water scarcity impacts food security and threatens economic and political security of nations.

He tells Brownfield one of the solutions is establishing clear and secure water rights for farmers.

“When you develop water rights you can empower farmers to make decisions about that water and how it interacts in their cropping systems as well,” he says.

Rosegrant says there also must be large investments in research and development on agriculture and water.

“How do you get more crop productivity per unit of water and land,” he says. “(Large investments) have been defunded to some extent over the last decade.”

He says it’s critical to address water concerns.

“Water cuts across all the really essential needs of providing food, income for those who use water as part of their production process, and it’s also fundamental to nutritious health,” he says.

The study also recommends that the public and private sector work together to address water scarcity.

Rosegrant is a research fellow emeritus at the International Food Policy Research Institute.

The study – From Scarcity to Security: Managing Water for a Nutritious Food Future – can be found here.

Audio: Mark Rosegrant, International Food Policy Research Institute