By Martha Baxter
Agriculture’s future will be shaped by water – its scarcity, its excess, its quality and the stability of the natural systems that sustain it. Across the world, farmers and food systems are facing growing water risks, including more frequent droughts and floods, declining water quality, degraded freshwater ecosystems and shifting rainfall patterns. At the same time, global food supply chains mean that water risks in one region can affect prices and food security elsewhere.
Countries’ ability to anticipate, monitor and manage water risks is becoming central to agricultural resilience.
New tools are expanding countries’ ability to anticipate and monitor water risks facing agriculture, from satellite-based crop monitoring to AI-enabled water quality forecasting. Yet, gaps remain, and how decisions are made is key.
Water risks are growing
Agriculture faces multiple and interconnected pressures linked to water availability, quality and ecosystem health.
Too little water: Drought remains the most damaging natural hazard for agriculture. About 11% of rainfed croplands and 14% of pasturelands face frequent drought, while more than 60% of irrigated cropland lies in areas experiencing high water stress. Water shortages reflect both changing climatic conditions and rising demand.
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