23 March 2015
- Expert report calls for long term integrated planning to protect the future of food and water supplies in the UK.
- Pressure on water and food supplies will increase due to larger populations, changing diets and climate change
- Report recommends preparing for a greater frequency of extreme weather, better advice for farmers, investing in modelling water systems and improved communication of the issuesThat’s the conclusion in a new report from an expert group, led by the Global Food Security programme as part of the UK Water Research and Innovation Partnership (UKWRIP). Farming and Water: Facing the Future Together (PDF 1.63Mb) was written by a collaboration of scientists, policy experts and specialists from the water industry.
Agriculture, food and water supplies are more intimately connected than is often appreciated. As demand for both food and water increases, there is a growing need to recognise the inter-connections and integrate long-term planning for the “agri-water” system rather than thinking about water and food systems separately. World demand for food is expected to rise by 60-100% by 2050, driven by a growing population and changing diets globally. In addition climate change will undermine the resilience of some food supply chains. Both of these factors are likely to create strong pressure on UK land and water resources. New approaches will therefore be needed, to manage land appropriately and determine trade-offs, so that water, food and environmental systems remain sustainable in the future.