Unlocking the water potential of agriculture Alexander Mueller Assistant Director General, Natural Resources Department 3 rd preparatory meeting of the.

Unlocking the water Unlocking the water potential of potential of agriculture agriculture

Alexander Mueller

Assistant Director General, Natural Resources Department

33rdrd preparatory meeting of the political ministerial preparatory meeting of the political ministerial agenda agenda

21-23 January 2009, FAO, Rome21-23 January 2009, FAO, Rome

WHY agriculture is so important in the water WHY agriculture is so important in the water debate?debate?

Simply because globally agriculture water is:Simply because globally agriculture water is:

•70%70% of all fresh water withdrawals of all fresh water withdrawals and and

•90%90% of the consumption. of the consumption.

Annual water required for food production:Annual water required for food production:•imagine a canal of 10 meters deep, 100 imagine a canal of 10 meters deep, 100

meters wide and 7.1 million kilometers longmeters wide and 7.1 million kilometers long•imagine 120 Nile river flows (Aswan) imagine 120 Nile river flows (Aswan)

The good newsThe good news is thatis that 1%1% of water of water productivity gain in agriculture productivity gain in agriculture means means 10%10% increase of availability increase of availability for other usesfor other uses

Liters per day per personLiters per day per personDrinkingDrinking 2-42-4DomesticDomestic 40-40040-400FoodFood 1000-5000 (and 1000-5000 (and more) more)

The unavoidable facts The unavoidable facts

YES Investing in agriculture yields to dramatic productivity Gains!!

Ex. Maize in Tons/ha water productivity gains

United States

China

LatinAmerica

Sub-SaharanAfrica

Associated water productivity gains: 300 to 500 %.

We know water scarcity is on the We know water scarcity is on the rise !!! rise !!!

By 2025, two-thirds of the world By 2025, two-thirds of the world population could be under “population could be under “stressstress

conditionsconditions” (500-1000 m” (500-1000 m3 3 per year per per year per capita), and 1800 million people are capita), and 1800 million people are expected to be living in countries or expected to be living in countries or

regions with “regions with “absolute water scarcityabsolute water scarcity” ” (<500 m(<500 m33 per year per capita) per year per capita)

Population Growth – Diet -Population Growth – Diet -UrbanizationUrbanization

Drivers of the water demand are Drivers of the water demand are knownknown

Ecosystem - Ecosystem - Water qualityWater quality

Energy (incl. Bio-fuels)Energy (incl. Bio-fuels)Climate change: on water supplyClimate change: on water supplyVolatility and shocks of Food and Energy prices

We know the new We know the new demands/threatsdemands/threats

• Examined a detailed portfolio of about 1000 investment Examined a detailed portfolio of about 1000 investment projects prepared by the governments of the 53 African projects prepared by the governments of the 53 African countries on short-, medium- and long-termcountries on short-, medium- and long-term

• Estimated the overall investments needed in water Estimated the overall investments needed in water infrastructure for agriculture and hydropower: about 65 infrastructure for agriculture and hydropower: about 65 Billions $ over the next 20 years.Billions $ over the next 20 years.

• Design a road map to address the challenges to the Design a road map to address the challenges to the future water development for agriculture and energy future water development for agriculture and energy and the scope for synergiesand the scope for synergies

FOOD and ENERGYFOOD and ENERGYFAO & FAO & Libyan Arab Jamahiriya organized in 2008 a Conference on Water for Agriculture and Energy in Africa

Climate change & water Climate change & water supply:supply:

runoff ≈ year 2050

The Wet gets wetter! - The Dry gets The Wet gets wetter! - The Dry gets drier!drier!

Expert Meeting on Climate Change, Water and Food Security Expert Meeting on Climate Change, Water and Food Security (March 2008)(March 2008)

We know how to We know how to respond to water respond to water

scarcityscarcity1.1. Augment the “Augment the “supplysupply””

3.3. Increase water use Increase water use ““efficiencyefficiency” ” && water water ““productivityproductivity””

4.4. Revise the “Revise the “demanddemand” ” managementmanagement

2.2. Preserve/conserve the “Preserve/conserve the “qualityquality””

Few insights on

Increase water use “efficiency”

More services per drop Multiple Uses of Water

More crops per drops

Increase water uses & “productivity”

Efficiency at global level is also important !

Optimization of agricultural trades

“Virtual water to save water”

Reduction of food losses before and after the plate

Efficiency along the food chain also critical !

On the demand

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 CONCLUSIONS

FAO wishes the message of the FAO wishes the message of the ministerial process to be ministerial process to be a message of a message of hopehope based on realistic options of based on realistic options of investment in water for all from investment in water for all from improved agriculture water improved agriculture water management. management.

Main statement is that in water Main statement is that in water scarce world, investing on the main scarce world, investing on the main use of water (food and agriculture) use of water (food and agriculture) is the best strategy !is the best strategy !

Thank Thank YouYou