1465. Water Solutions to Feed 10 Billion People

According to a new World Bank report (Nourish and Flourish: Water Solutions to Feed 10 Billion People on a Livable Planet), current agricultural water management practices, with overuse in some countries and underuse in others, can only sustainably support food production for less than half of the world's population. With food needed to feed 10 billion people projected by 2050, restoring balance to water use in the global food system is crucial for sustainably meeting future food demands.

Water management for food production has a significant impact on employment, livelihoods, and economic growth. By making smarter choices about crop cultivation areas, water allocation methods, and how trade supports food security, we can conserve resources. The report presents a new framework for agricultural water management, classifying countries based on their water stress levels (high/low) and food trade status (net importer/net exporter). Classifying countries based on water scarcity and food import/export situations allows for tailored solutions rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. The report identifies regions where expanding rain-fed agriculture can increase food production, regions where irrigation investment can boost employment and economic growth, regions where water use balance must be re-evaluated to protect ecosystems and future productivity, and regions where relying on trade rather than food production is more sustainable.

The report re-examines agricultural water management not only as a means of increasing productivity, but also as a platform that delivers cross-sectoral benefits across the entire economy. The analysis suggests that strategic investment in agricultural water management has the potential to yield significant development effects. Even a single measure, such as expanding sustainable irrigation, could create at least 245 million jobs, considering the multiplier effects in storage, processing, transport, and markets. By transforming how countries manage agricultural water, policymakers can simultaneously achieve increased food production, job creation, climate resilience, emissions reduction, and ecosystem protection, enabling economic prosperity on a more livable planet while ensuring access to nutritious food for all.

(References)
Talbi, Amal, et al. 2026. Nourish and Flourish: Water Solutions to Feed 10 Billion People on a Livable Planet. Global Water Monitoring Report. Washington, DC: World Bank. https://doi.org/10.1596/978-1-4648-0782-4

Contributor: Miyuki IIYAMA, Information Program