by Shenggen Fan
Director General, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)
August 24, 2015 –Washington, D.C.
Water not only quenches our thirst, but is at the very foundation of our ability to feed the world. About 84 percent of global consumptive use of water goes toward agricultural purposes. Today, in the face of a growing global population and climate change that threatens farmers’ ability to grow food, it’s more important than ever that we work to achieve sustainable management of water as well as food security—key elements of the Sustainable Development Goals. One starting point will be to find ways to encourage sustainable, efficient, and equitable water use.
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The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) seeks sustainable solutions for ending hunger and poverty. IFPRI was established in 1975 to identify and analyze alternative national and international strategies and policies for meeting the food needs of the developing world, with particular emphasis on low-income countries and on the poorer groups in those countries. www.ifpri.org.
This year’s World Water Week is taking place from Aug. 23-28 in Stockholm, Sweden. Organized by the Stockholm International Water Institute, the 2015 theme is Water for Development. Thousands of participants gather, according to SIWI, “to network, exchange ideas, foster new thinking and develop solutions to the most pressing water-related challenges of today.” IFPRI is proud to contribute to the dialogue and continues to work toward a future of sustainable water use.