Intelligence on Agricultural Water Use, Irrigation Efficiency, and the Water-Food Nexus

Agriculture accounts for approximately 70% of global freshwater withdrawals — making it the single largest driver of water demand and a central variable in water security planning. As climate change alters precipitation patterns and groundwater depletion accelerates, the pressure to produce more food with less water has never been greater.

This collection delivers intelligence on water use across agriculture and food systems: irrigation efficiency, precision water management, water-food nexus dynamics, agricultural water policy, virtual water trade, and the strategies governments and agribusinesses are deploying to reduce water intensity while maintaining food production. Reports examine both large-scale irrigated agriculture and smallholder systems across diverse climatic and regulatory contexts.

Essential reading for agricultural water managers, food system strategists, water resource planners, policymakers, and investors at the intersection of water security and food production.