Threat to food security: A quarter of the world's crops are grown in water risk areas

Recently released data from the World Resources Institute has highlighted the mounting risk to global food security, with a quarter of the world’s agricultural production taking place in regions facing unreliable or highly stressed water supplies.

Three staple crops- rice, wheat, and corn provide more than half of the world’s food calories, yet concerningly these are at particular risk, with 33% produced using water supplies that are highly stressed or highly variable[i]. This is alongside the expected steep rise in food demands, where the world will need to produce 56% more food calories by 2050 compared to levels in 2010, to feed a forecast global population of 10 billion.

The research also found that both irrigated crops and rain-fed crops are at risk, though for differing reasons. Irrigated crops, which account for 34% of the world’s total production by weight are especially vulnerable to increasing competition over shared water supplies, known as water stress. The WRI deem water stress to be considered “high” if at least 40% of the local water supply is used to meet demands from farms, industries, power plants and households. Already around 60% of the world’s irrigated crops are currently grown in areas facing high or extremely high levels of water stress.

Rain-fed crops, which make up 46% of global crops by weight, suffer from the impact of erratic weather patterns. According to the WRI, 8% of the rain-fed crops the world produces are grown in areas facing high to extremely high variations in annual water supply, places where rainfall patterns may swing wildly between drought and deluge.

Source: World Resources Institute[ii]

Concerningly, just 10 countries — China, India, United States, Pakistan, Brazil, Egypt, Mexico, Vietnam, Indonesia and Thailand — are reported to produce 72% of the world’s irrigated crops with two-thirds of these facing high to extremely high levels of water stress.

Actions to address the threat from water stress and scarcity

The WRI outlines a number of actions to help address the threat to crops posed by water stress and scarcity, they note that some of these strategies for sustainably managing water also play a role in tackling the climate and biodiversity crises, therefore having the potential to improve people’s lives. The recommendations include reducing food loss and waste, increasing water efficiency, and switching diets to less water-intensive foods. They suggest:

·         Assess water risks and set meaningful targets: Corporations and governments alike must first understand the water risks they face, using granular data and mapping. Corporations should assess the water impacts of their own products and operations, as well as those of their suppliers. They should set meaningful targets to align with sustainability goals, such as science-based freshwater use targets.

·         Reduce food loss and waste: One quarter of all water used for agriculture grows food that ultimately goes uneaten. Food is lost and wasted across all parts of the supply chain, from farm to table.

·         Shift high-meat diets towards less water-intensive foods: One pound of beef requires 50 times more water to produce than one pound of potatoes. Choosing less water-intensive foods can substantially decrease water stress and unsustainable water use.

·         Avoid dedicating land to bioenergy: Diverting farmland to biofuel production increases competition for both land and water resources and can adversely affect water quality.

·         Increase water use efficiency: Farmers should use more efficient water measures, such as switching to water-efficient crops or using methods like sprinkler or drip irrigation versus flooding fields.

·         Invest in nature-based solutions: Conservation and nature-based solutions can boost water security. For example, protecting and restoring forests helps regulate rainfall in nearby areas. Regenerative practices like agroforestry can help water infiltrate the soil, reducing reliance on irrigation and replenishing groundwater.

·         Support inclusive water management: Water managers should ensure that water is distributed equitably throughout a basin, therefore not prioritising corporate farms over small family farms. Water infrastructure like dams and irrigation systems must be built and maintained in ways that do no harm[iii].

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References

[i] Data Reveals Crops Most Threatened by Water Shortages | World Resources Institute

[ii] Ibid

[iii] Ibid

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