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Unlocking the water potential of agriculture . Alexander Mueller . Assistant Director General, Natural Resources Department . 3 rd preparatory meeting of the political ministerial agenda 21-23 January 2009, FAO, Rome. WHY agriculture is so important in the water debate?
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Unlocking the water potential of agriculture Alexander Mueller Assistant Director General, Natural Resources Department 3rd preparatory meeting of the political ministerial agenda 21-23 January 2009, FAO, Rome
WHY agriculture is so important in the water debate? • Simply because globally agriculture water is: • 70%of all fresh water withdrawals • and • 90% of the consumption. • Annual water required for food production: • imagine a canal of 10 meters deep, 100 meters wide and 7.1 million kilometers long • imagine 120 Nile river flows (Aswan)
The unavoidable facts Liters per day per person Drinking 2-4 Domestic 40-400 Food 1000-5000 (and more) The good newsis that1%of water productivity gain in agriculture means 10% increase of availability for other uses
YES Investing in agriculture yields to dramatic productivity Gains!! Ex. Maize in Tons/ha water productivity gains Associated water productivity gains: 300 to500 %. United States China Latin America Sub-Saharan Africa
We know water scarcity is on the rise !!! By 2025, two-thirds of the world population could be under “stressconditions” (500-1000 m3 per year per capita), and 1800 million people are expected to be living in countries or regions with “absolute water scarcity” (<500 m3 per year per capita)
Drivers of the water demand are known Population Growth – Diet -Urbanization Ecosystem - Water quality We know the new demands/threats Energy (incl. Bio-fuels) Climate change: on water supply Volatility and shocks of Food and Energy prices
FOOD and ENERGY FAO & Libyan Arab Jamahiriya organized in 2008 a Conference on Water for Agriculture and Energy in Africa • Examined a detailed portfolio of about 1000 investment projects prepared by the governments of the 53 African countries on short-, medium- and long-term • Estimated the overall investments needed in water infrastructure for agriculture and hydropower: about 65 Billions $ over the next 20 years. • Design a road map to address the challenges to the future water development for agriculture and energy and the scope for synergies
Climate change & water supply: ≈ year 2050 runoff The Wet gets wetter! - The Dry gets drier! Expert Meeting on Climate Change, Water and Food Security (March 2008)
We know how to respond to water scarcity Augment the “supply” Preserve/conserve the “quality” Increase water use “efficiency” & water “productivity” Few insights on Revise the “demand” management
More crops per drops Increase water use “efficiency” Increase water uses & “productivity” More services per drop Multiple Uses of Water
On the demand Efficiency at global level is also important ! Optimization of agricultural trades “Virtual water to save water” Efficiency along the food chain also critical ! Reduction of food losses before and after the plate
It is also important to curb the “demand” Raise awareness & responsibility of customers “Water footprint” Noteworthy that between 1990 and 1995 in developed countries, water savings due to diet changes [reduction of meat consumption and shift from red to white meat] have generated some 400 liters per day per capita THAT is more than domestic water needs !!
CONCLUSIONS Main statement is that in water scarce world, investing on the main use of water (food and agriculture) is the best strategy ! FAO wishes the message of the ministerial process to be a message of hope based on realistic options of investment in water for all from improved agriculture water management.
