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Providing Solutions to Water for Food Challenges

Current projections indicate the world population will surpass 9 billion people by 2050, resulting in over 2 billion more people to feed. At the same time, rising incomes in emerging countries are boosting demand for diversified diets, including more protein-based foods. Meeting these needs means world food production must nearly double in the next 40 years. While there is little additional arable land available for cultivation, water availability will likely be one of the most significant resource constraints farmers face as they endeavor to produce sufficient food for a growing population.

Rainfed agriculture is the world’s predominant agricultural production system. However, irrigated agriculture continues to expand, doubling in the past 50 years. Irrigated agriculture is practiced on 20% of cultivated land, accounting for 40% of global food output. Irrigation enables much higher yields, sometimes twice the amount obtained from rainfed agriculture. Water withdrawals have tripled over the last 50 years. Today agriculture is responsible for 70% of global withdrawals, with the amount varying greatly across regions (Figure 1). Asia, for example, relies heavily on irrigation for food production and thus uses a high proportion of available water for agriculture.

Global investment in water management is well below levels necessary to address food security and deal with natural resource scarcity. Greater investment in research and development of science-based technologies that improve water use efficiency and quality is essential. Global Harvest Initiative Members - DuPont, Elanco, IBM, John Deere and Monsanto recognize these challenges and are improving water productivity through a variety of new technologies and innovative management practices.

Providing Solutions Where Needed Most Drought, a leading cause of food emergencies in developing countries, often affects global crop productivity more than other types of stress. Annual global yield losses due to drought reach 15%, valued at some $13 billion. Three-fourths of the world’s most severe droughts in the last 10 years have occurred in Africa. To help address this, the Water Efficient Maize for Africa project (WEMA), was formed. WEMA is a public/private partnership, led by the Kenyan-based African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) and funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates and Howard G. Buffett Foundations. Monsanto is one of the partners involved in the project which aims to develop and deliver new drought-tolerant maize varieties to African farmers.

1 http://www.fao.org/nr/water/docs/waterataglance.pdf2 http://www.monsanto.com/ourcommitments/Pages/water-efficient-maize-for-africa.aspx

It is estimated that $1 trillion of investment in irrigation technologies will be required by 20501.

The WEMA project could produce an estimated two million additional tons of food, enough to feed 14 to 21 million people2.

www.globalharvestinitiative.org

Providing Solutions to Water for Food Challenges

Inclusive Innovation Around the globe, DuPont scientists work in concert with farmers, local businesses, governments, NGOs and others to find answers to some of the world’s greatest challenges. DuPont is a member of the Drought-Tolerant Plants Research Consortium (DROPS)3, a European Commission-sponsored consortium developing novel tools and breeding strategies to advance drought-tolerant research in maize and other crops. DuPont business Pioneer Hi-Bred contributes expertise and a state-of-the-art modeling platform for maize research. Pioneer established the first research center dedicated to the development of drought-tolerant maize in 1957. Since 1970, Pioneer researchers have doubled maize yield per inch of rainfall.

Supplying the Right Amount of Water at the Right Time Water is the lifeblood of plants. Supplying the right amount at the right time consistently throughout the growing season improves crop yields and quality. John Deere provides a range of solutions to help the world’s farmers manage water. From precision irrigation and soil moisture management to laser field leveling, John Deere offers the technologies that enable farmers to feed the world while stewarding one of the planet’s most precious resources - water.

Efficiency Enhancing Technologies Protein consumption per person will nearly double by 2050. According to the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (UNFAO), 70% of the food needed to meet the demand must come from technologies that enhance production efficiency5. These technologies enable farmers to grow more food utilizing fewer resources, i.e. water. GHI member company Elanco is committed to developing products that enhance the efficiency and productivity of animals used in meat, milk and egg production.

Smarter Water for a Smarter Planet The most important area in agricultural water usage is determining how to use only what is precisely needed. IBM’s analytics driven smarter agricultural water technologies help manage the use of water in agriculture by first sensing what is needed precisely, where it is needed exactly and when it will be required in the near future. Knowing water needs is then met with the ability to monitor the condition of the system of delivering that water to minimize waste. Using analytics, IBM can also monitor the impacts of water, especially excessive precipitation, on soil structures and agricultural runoff helping ensure producers are good stewards. IBM’s strategic information management solutions and intelligent infrastructures to support the management of entire natural water systems, levee systems, water infrastructure, water utilities and water treatment facilities.

The Global Harvest Initiative is committed to increasing global agricultural productivity through sustainable use of the world’s water and natural resources. GHI member companies spend over $10 million daily on research and development. Through this investment in technology, and commitment to the stewards of the land, agricultural productivity is increasing. GHI is a growing partnership and welcomes new members who share in our mission to address hunger and global food security through increasing productivity. Together, with support of the private sector, NGOs, governments and academia, we can find solutions to global challenges.

About The Global Harvest Initiative:

Established in 2009, The Global Harvest Initiative is a partnership among DuPont, Elanco, IBM, John Deere, and Monsanto with the goal of addressing hunger and food security by sustainably closing the global agricultural productivity gap. Every year, GHI releases its signature GAP Report™, an annual benchmark of the global rate of agricultural productivity. For information about membership, programs, and for resources, videos and reports, visit www.globalharvestinitiative.org. Join us on Twitter @Harvest2050 and Facebook.

3 http://www.drops-project.eu/4 http://www.fao.org/nr/water/docs/SOLAW_EX_SUMM_WEB_EN.pdf5 http://www.fao.org/DOCREP/004/Y3557E/y3557e00.htm

Over the last 50 years more than 40 percent of the increase in food production came from irrigated areas4.