Ten Strategies For Wise Water Use Through Food And Agriculture

Ten Strategies for Wise Water Use through Food and Agriculture Recommendations from Food Tank: The Food Think Tank (www.FoodTank.org) to commemorate World Water Day March 22nd Contact: Danielle Nierenberg at danielle@foodtank.org or at 202-590-1037 Chicago, IL-March 22, 2013 is the 20th anniversary of World Water Day. Although about 70 percent of the earth's surface is covered by water, only 0.001 percent is fresh and available for human consumption. The largest portion of this-70 percent-is used for agriculture. Global agricultural water consumption is expected to increase by approximately 19 percent by 2050."Nearly one billion people suffer from hunger and more than 2.3 billion live in water-stressed areas. Understanding the global food system and making smart, sustainable changes in the way we eat and produce food now, can help prevent both famine and thirst in the future," says Ellen Gustafson, co-founder of Food Tank. Food Tank: The Food Think Tank and the Barilla Center for Food & Nutrition (BCFN) have launched a new joint initiative highlighting World Water Day and ways in which eaters, farmers, and policymakers can reduce their water footprint. In 2012, the United States experienced the most severe drought in at least 25 years, which, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), affected 80 percent of agricultural land in the country. Couple that with recent droughts in other parts of the world, most notably in the African Sahel, and the urgency for action to safeguard water resources is clear. "Drought is a problem for farmers across the world. But from the U.S. to Ghana, extraordinary water-saving innovations are being developed by farmers, research institutions, and NGOs. The solutions are out there, but they need more attention, more research, and ultimately, more funding and investment," says Danielle Nierenberg, and co-founder of Food Tank.

Extreme weather events aren't the only threat to agriculture and water resources. As water supplies face mounting pressures from growing populations, climate change, and an already troubled food system, water wealth and water security are entering the heart of the international discourse around global cooperation and stability. The scarcity of the global water supply means that, if we are to meet all municipal, agricultural, and ecological needs, new and innovative water-saving systems will be crucial to the future of food production. Here are Food Tank's 10 Recommended Strategies for Wise Water Use through Food and Agriculture:
Farmers can... Strengthen soil with intercropping, agroforestry, and cover crops Soil health is critical to water conservation, according to the U. S. Department of Agriculture National Resource Conservation Service. Diversifying farms by including cover crops, planting trees on farms, and intercropping can help keep nutrients and water in the soil, protect plants from drought, and ensure that every drop of water delivered by rainfall or irrigation can be utilized. Put supplemental irrigation to use The World Wildlife Fund estimates that approximately 60 percent of water used for irrigation is wasted. Drip irrigation methods can carry higher installation costs, but can also be 33 percent to 40 percent more efficient, carrying water or fertilizers directly to plants' roots. Collect rainwater for crops--even in cities Rainwater harvesting is not a new idea-it was critical for communities during the Roman Empire. Modern day rainwater harvesting can increase water availability and crop yields, as well as recharge groundwater supplies. The U.N. Environment Programme has reported on rainwater irrigation around the world, highlighting how capturing rainwater runoff can be especially useful in urban areas. The Rainwater Catchment Project in Gansu, China has provided drinking water for 1.3