Brussels Briefing: The Water We Eat

Brussels Briefing: The Water we eat

On April 13th, 2011, the CTA organized a Brussels Briefing on “The Water we eat” in cooperation with DG DEVCO of the European Commission, the ACP Secretariat, Concord and other partners.

Water is integral to all aspects of human welfare, including security, energy, food, and health. It affects the economy of countries as a whole and transcends a number of crucial productive sectors, including water and sanitation supply, irrigation, drainage and food production, renewable energy generation and the environment and in the last years it has been recognized as one of the key resources for development,growth and poverty reduction.

To keep pace with the growing demand for food, it is estimated that 14 percent more freshwater will need to be withdrawn for agricultural purposes in the next 30 years. To harness the potential of water to function as a driver of growth, the indispensable ingredients are increased investments in the water-related sectors—water resources management, water supply and sanitation, irrigation and drainage, hydro power, and water/environment—accompanied by urgently needed reforms.

The various speakers discussed the impact and relation between the food security agenda and the increase in water consumption,which shows in a different water footprint for our planet. The need for closer linking food security aspects in our water programming will be a challenge for the future. More information.