Betting the farm while irrigation supplies dwindle

Irrigation supports nearly 40% of global agricultural production but shortfalls in water supplies have been intensifying and expanding worldwide, threatening crop production and supply chains as well as farmer livelihoods. These water shortages are resulting from increasing demands in both agricultural and urban areas as well as diminishing water availability due to climate change. Consumption of freshwater supplies is now approaching or exceeding renewable rates of replenishment in at least one-third of all freshwater sources, including rivers, lakes, and aquifers supplying nearly three-quarters of the world’s irrigated farmland. This growing water crisis demands concerted attention and action at an unprecedented scale. The knowledge and expertise required to attain water sustainability exists, but the political will and governance needed to drive transformational changes in irrigated farming has been woefully lacking. Building a sustainable future for irrigated farms will require both strong improvements in water governance, and a willingness among farmers to adapt to rapidly changing water availability.