FAO Rome Water Dialogue 2024

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) will hold its third Rome Water Dialogue on 17 October 2024, during the World Food Forum.

This year’s event will focus on the Global Framework on Water Scarcity in Agriculture (WASAG), a partnership hosted by the FAO and launched in 2016.

Water scarcity is one of the most pressing challenges of the 21st century, with agriculture - responsible for 72% of global freshwater withdrawals - heavily affected.

Droughts are already leading to widespread crop failures and acute food insecurity, especially in vulnerable nations.

With the global population expected to hit 10 billion people by 2050, food production needs to increase by 50 per cent compared to 2012, requiring at least 25 per cent more water.

Changing rainfall patterns and climate change further threaten farmers’ livelihoods and global food security.

Building on discussions from the WASAG preparatory meeting in April, the event aims to boost the partnership’s visibility, commitment, and impact in tackling water scarcity in agriculture.

• Find out more about the event here.