This report, entitled “Feeding a thirsty world: Challenges and opportunities for a water and food secure world”, was published by the Stockholm International Water Institute as its official input into the discussions at the 2012 World Water Week in Stockholm on August 26-31 2012.
In summary, the report provides brief overviews of new knowledge, thinking and approaches on emerging and persistent challenges to achieve food security in the 21st century, and their relationship with water issues. It focuses on critical issues that have received less attention in the literature to date, such as: food waste and consumption patterns (eg. the different water requirements of high- and low-meat dietary patterns), land acquisitions, gender aspects of agriculture, and early warning systems for agricultural emergencies. It also offers perspectives on how to better manage water and food linkages. The report emphasises the issues such as urban growth and virtual water (the water embedded in the foods that are consumed and traded), and highlights the mounting pressure on scarce water and land resources, the considerable food losses, and the need for promotion of a water saving society.
The citation is: Jägerskog, A., Jønch Clausen, T. (eds.) 2012. Feeding a Thirsty World – Challenges and Opportunities for a Water and Food Secure Future. Report Nr. 31. SIWI, Stockholm.
You can download the report here.
The report was covered by various papers and websites, most of whom emphasised the diet angle – for instance see the Guardian's coverage here.
Note that the abstracts, posters presented at WWF together with workshop session summaries are all available on the World Water Week website here.
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