The Challenge of Responding to Water Scarcity in Irrigated Agriculture

Water scarcity is increasingly acknowledged to be a major risk in many parts of the world (World Economic Forum). Projections indicate that water-related problems may significantly worsen over the next several decades due to rising water demands as a result of demographic, socioeconomic, and technological changes, and due to the effects of climate change (World Water Assessment Program; Jiménez Cisneros and Oki). Significant advances in water management and more integrated policymaking, including increased investment in adaptation measures, will be necessary to reduce the risk of dramatic consequences for economic growth and environmental sustainability