Water Crisis

In 2023 the World Economic Forum announced the world is in water crisis.

All crops need water – there is no alternative to water – the effects are being felt right now, globally affecting a huge portion of the planet and billions of people and their communities.

70% of the worlds fresh water is consumed by agriculture – as stated by the World Economic Forum in 2023, the world is in a water crisis now - with a crucial need for solutions.

The Problem

Global freshwater withdrawals for agriculture, industry and domestic uses since 1960, measured a Trillion cubic metres (Tm²) has increased from 1.5Tm² to 4.3Tm² in just 65 years.

Increased

190%

In just 65 years

Sea water

96.5%

Fresh water

3.5%

Accessible water

Global freshwater use has increase dramatically since the 1960’s, however the level of the world's freshwater is precarious with only

useable freshwater and groundwater sources are beginning to fail.

Water Crisis – Impact on Agriculture

By 2030, water scarcity is projected to reduce crop yields by 20% globally.

Factors leading to
water scarcity

Climate change and changing rainfall patterns.
Over-extraction of groundwater resources
Inefficient irrigation practices
Population density and increase
Increased agriculture demand

Effects on
Farming Practices

Reduced crop yields and quality
Increased costs for farmers, capital and revenue
Water loss in agriculture
- Surface evaporation – 40%
- Run-off – 25%
- Soil gravity – 35%

Agriculture
currently uses

70%

of the world’s water.

By 2050 this is projected to be

89%

The effect on Agriculture really started to bite five years ago and now crops across the world are demanding higher levels of irrigation, even those which are traditionally rainfed.