I couldn’t attend the World Agricultural Forum this week but Sara Wyant did. She was kind enough to email me the following update from the event.
World Agricultural Forum warns of water woes
Start looking for ways to use water more efficiently or risk food shortages and political instability. That was one of several messages delivered by global leaders during the World Agricultural Forum (WAF) in St. Louis this week as they addressed farm subsidies, rural poverty, renewable energy, rural development and a host of other topics. “No issue will test the mettle of leaders more than accommodating and feeding an extra 2.6 billion people by 2050 and responding to the very challenging policy implications of aging and declining populations in the developed world,” noted Jim Bolger, the former New Zealand prime minister who chairs the WAF.
The call for a renewed focus on water comes amid increasing concern about a link between water shortages, agricultural productivity and threats to global food security. The WAF is concerned about the effect that depletion of water tables, “desertification” and overuse of water for non-agricultural purposes in developing countries is having on the world’s ability to feed rapidly growing populations. “Agriculture is by far the largest consumer of water and [we] will be expected to make quite radical changes in the use of that water because there is simply not enough to go around,” added Bolger. He cited United Nations estimates showing that by 2025; about two-thirds of the world would be living in areas of the world with “water deficits.”
Wyant covered the event for Agri-Pulse Communications, Inc. For a free trial subscription, email Sara at: APFreetrial@aol.com
