Agriculture

Agriculture and food security rely on water as a critical input. Agricultural irrigated land accounts for 20 percent of all cultivated land and 40 percent of all food produced worldwide. As a result, irrigated agriculture is, on average, twice as productive per unit of land as rainfed agriculture, allowing more crop diversification and production intensification.

Population growth, urbanization, and climate change are expected to increase competition for water resources, with particular effects on agriculture. By 2050, there will be over 10 billion people on earth, and whether urban or rural, these people will need food and fiber to survive. By 2050, it is estimated that agricultural production will need to grow by 70% due to the rising consumption of calories and complex foods accompanying income growth in the developing world.