Food security, a key driver of peace and prosperity

Last update:24 April 2024

Water is central to agriculture, a key socio-economic driver for sustainable growth, livelihoods, justice, food security and labor. In an era marked by increasing global population, climate change and growing competition for water resources, investing in agriculture will be key to address these challenges.

The Uru Chipaya, known as the 'Water Men,' increasingly face the threat of extinction. This is not due to technology or abandonment of customs, but rather from climate change and water scarcity. In response to these challenges, the Uru Chipaya carry out water harvesting, selective hunting, and gratitude rituals to Mother Earth, as shown in this photo.

Salvador Saavedra

Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)

Agricultural production is among the most vulnerable sectors to climate-related water risks, as it uses approximately 72% of the freshwater withdrawals globally.

In many semi-arid countries, dependence on rainfed agriculture limits the production potential for millions of smallholder farmers. Irrigation stabilizes production, generating direct benefits (increased profitability and reduced risk of crop failure), as well as indirect benefits (employment, and balanced conditions of food and supply markets).

Food security can be a key driver of peace and prosperity but is also highly vulnerable to disruptions arising from conflicts. It is estimated that between 690 and 783 million people in the world faced hunger in 2022, and it is projected that almost 600 million people will still face hunger in 2030.

Climate change, environmental degradation and conflicts can affect rural-to-urban migration movements, which lead to a decrease in the availability of labor for food production, as well as a decrease in the availability of food in the areas from which people are migrating.

Key figures

72%

of global freshwater withdrawals

are used by agricultural production

783 million

people in the world faced hunger in 2022

Water governance issues are often linked to tenure rights. In many countries, access to and use of water resources in rural areas is governed by customary arrangements (which may or may not be recognized and protected by formal law) and by a range of informal water tenure arrangements that can play a significant role in conflict resolution.

Much of the next generation of investments will need to focus on intensifying agricultural production in a sustainable manner through improved management and governance. International organizations and governments are already looking into how to invest in modern technologies and processes to meet land- and water-related SDG targets at a faster and greater scale.

Growing carrots on a plot of land where crops resistant to lack of water are being tested.

Pablo Tosco

Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Close to 84% of smallholder farms in low- and middle-income countries are located in water-scarce regions

Cabdi Mahamoud growing carrots on a plot of land where crops resistant to lack of water are being tested. This project is one of Ali Shire Omar's undertakings together with international NGOs to develop alternatives for growing food.

Pablo Tosco

Action example:

Addressing small-scale farmers’ livelihoods in poverty alleviation

Close to 84% of smallholder farms in low- and middle-income countries are located in water-scarce regions, and less than a third have access to irrigation (Ritchie, 2021; FAO, 2021). There is a need for more attention and help to smallholder farmers and the rural poor, in particular women and children, as the role they play contributes to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals as well as conserving local ecosystems.

FAO’s framework on extreme rural poverty recognizes that conserving and restoring natural resources should directly benefit the rural poor, Action example 4 The United Nations World Water Development Report 2024 Water for prosperity and peace particularly those living in remote marginalized areas. This is linked to promoting responsible governance of the tenure of resources. Recognizing the legitimate tenure rights of people to use, manage and control land, water, biodiversity, forests and fisheries is fundamental to helping the rural extreme poor adapt to climate change (FAO, 2019).

By increasing knowledge on the role of water in rural livelihoods and adopting participatory approaches focused on smallholder farmers, actions can be focused to build resilience, identify and adapt water technologies, and promote smart investments in water for poverty reduction.

International and national partners are developing methodologies based on the concept of livelihood mapping to help investors and policy-makers in prioritizing, planning and implementing water-related interventions in support of smallholder farmers; performing regional and national studies on rural poverty reduction through water-related interventions; and applying water technologies and approaches to increase the impact of development projects targeting poor farmers, with particular attention to women (FAO, n.d.).