High-Level Rome Water Dialogue on WASAG – The Global Framework on Water Scarcity in Agriculture
Background
Water scarcity is one of the greatest challenges of the 21st century, severely impacting agriculture, which accounts for 72 percent of global freshwater withdrawals. Droughts are already a major cause of crop failures in many parts of the world and of acute food insecurity crisis in vulnerable countries. With the world population expected to reach around 10 billion in 2050, we will need to produce 50 percent more food than in 2012, which will require at least 25 percent more water. Changing rainfall patterns and a warming climate further threaten the food security and livelihoods of farmers and people worldwide.
In response to these challenges, the Global Framework on Water Scarcity in Agriculture (WASAG), a partnership hosted by FAO, was launched in 2016 to tackle the collective challenge of optimizing water use in agriculture to ensure food security for all.
To advance these efforts, FAO will host the "High-Level Rome Water Dialogue on WASAG" on October 17, 2024, as part of the World Food Forum 2024. This dialogue will build on the outcomes of the WASAG preparatory meeting held in April 2024, aiming to enhance the visibility, commitment, and impact of the WASAG partnership.
The event will be held in the Plenary Hall at FAO Headquarters, Rome, Italy and online.
Interpretation in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish will be available.
Objectives
The event “High-Level Rome Water Dialogue on WASAG” will:
- Enhance collaboration among FAO Member Nations and mobilize commitments to make WASAG more impactful and effective;
- Agree on key WASAG operating mechanisms for efficient delivery; and
- Highlight the priorities in addressing water scarcity in agriculture, strengthening the connections between the agriculture and water sectors.
Expected outcomes
- Agreed priorities for WASAG for the period 2025–2031, in support of the implementation of the FAO Strategic Framework 2022–2031;
- Endorsement of the WASAG governance/operating mechanisms; and
- Adoption of the Rome Declaration on Water Scarcity in Agriculture.
More information
This description was excerpted from fao.org
