The effect of water scarcity on Iran’s food security

Water scarcity is one of the most urgent food security issues facing countries of arid and semiarid climate like Iran. This study examines the impact of water scarcity on food security in an era of climate change. Using the Iranian Statistics Center (ISC) data on food production, climate change variables, energy consumption, population growth and water use coupled with a simultaneous equations (3SLS) modelling approach, the impacts of water scarcity, are analyzed. The results show that water scarcity in Iran is a regional issue, mainly in eastern and central areas. This is reflected in the limited and uneven distribution of water resources, decline of surface water resources, depletion of groundwater resources, degradation of water quality and increasing water demand. Climate change has further aggravated water scarcity in several river basins in central Iran, resulting in the food security shortage due to fall in food production. The need for more research on improving water-limited crop production is highlighted, and emphasis is placed on interdisciplinary approaches to gain the insight needed to achieve new breakthroughs that would help in tackling this complex problem.