FAO Director-General Urges Collective Action to Manage Water Resources for a Growing World

Strategic Insights -

The Rome Water Dialogue 2025, held at the FAO headquarters, gathered international experts and governments to address the pressing issue of sustainable water management for resilient agriculture and food security. The event, organized in collaboration with the World Food Forum, highlighted the importance of integrated policies and collective action to manage water resources vital for feeding a growing world. FAO Director-General QU Dongyu emphasized that "the food we eat depends on water, and agriculture alone uses more than 70 percent of global freshwater withdrawals." The challenge of water scarcity cannot be tackled in silos, and cross-sectoral policies and cross-country approaches are needed to deliver win-win solutions.

Key Takeaways:

  • The FAO Director-General, QU Dongyu, underscored the centrality of water to FAO's mandate and global food security, noting that agriculture alone uses more than 70 percent of global freshwater withdrawals.
  • By 2050, feeding nearly 10 billion people will require at least 50 percent more food --and potentially 30 percent more freshwater -- in a world already facing scarcity and climate stress.
  • The challenge of water scarcity cannot be tackled in silos, and cross-sectoral policies and cross-country approaches are needed to deliver win-win solutions.
  • FAO has helped countries design and restore irrigation systems that have brought water back to farmlands and rural communities over the last 80 years.
  • The AQUASTAT initiative, launched by FAO 30 years ago, provides the world's most complete global database on water resources and use.
  • Through the WaPOR portal, FAO makes satellite-based data freely available to help farmers and planners improve irrigation efficiency in 35 countries.
  • FAO supports over 35 countries in developing national drought management plans and accessing drought financing, and 15 countries in developing their national water strategies and roadmaps to achieve all Sustainable Development Goals.
  • FAO is one of the lead UN agencies implementing the UN System-wide Strategy for Water and Sanitation and preparing for the 2026 UN Water Conference.

Statistics:

  • By 2050, feeding nearly 10 billion people will require at least 50 percent more food --and potentially 30 percent more freshwater -- in a world already facing scarcity and climate stress.
  • Agriculture alone uses more than 70 percent of global freshwater withdrawals.
  • FAO supports over 35 countries in developing national drought management plans and accessing drought financing, and 15 countries in developing their national water strategies and roadmaps to achieve all Sustainable Development Goals.
  • The AQUASTAT initiative, launched by FAO 30 years ago, provides the world's most complete global database on water resources and use.
  • The WaPOR portal, a satellite-based data platform, helps farmers and planners improve irrigation efficiency in 35 countries.

Sources:

  • FAO (2025). FAO Director-General urges integrated policies and collective action to manage water resources vital for feeding a growing world.
  • FAO (2023). FAO Ministerial Conference endorses Integrated Water Resource Management as a priority for the 2024-2025 biennium.
  • FAO (2023). FAO adopts Conceptual Framework for Integrated Land and Water Resource Management to guide its work.
  • FAO (no date). AQUASTAT initiative.
  • FAO (no date). WaPOR portal.