Platform for Agrobiodiversity Research

The international observance of World Water Day, this year on March 22, is an initiative that grew out of the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro.  This year’s theme — ‘Clean Water for a Healthy World’ — reflects the fact that population and industrial growth are adding new sources of pollution and increased demand for clean water across the world.

A new report from the United Nations Environment Programme found that more people die from the effects of unsafe water each year than from wars and any other kind of violence.   But people have the power to prevent water pollution, clean up contaminated water and wastewater, and restore the ecosystems that naturally filter and clean unsafe water. Not all water challenges are inevitable. Proper management and protection can go a long way toward sustainable water use.

“Human and environmental health, drinking and agricultural water supplies for the present and future are at stake, yet water pollution rarely warrants mention as a pressing issue. It is absolutely right that water quality considerations should be highlighted just as much as water quantity issues going forward ” says Dr Jules van der Lier in his article

U.S. Secretary of State Hilary Clinton observed at the  U.S. World Water Day event that “water may become a potential catalyst for conflict.” Water scarcity may incite conflict among neighbors, or it’s possible that diplomacy and cooperation could emerge. But the deathly impacts of poor water quality cannot be negotiated with.Water scarcity could pose future security problems, but Clinton says that improving water and sanitation, which are closely linked, also present the U.S. with a “great diplomatic and development opportunity.” That is, if we embrace the importance of clean and safe water for life….Read more

IFAP President Ajay Vashee said “Farmers around the world use diverse but effective tactics to increase the sustainability of their water use, which is the determining factor in improving water quality.” Safeguarding and improving water quality is a shared responsibility, however. IFAP calls on governments and intergovernmental agencies to provide farmer-centered investment in irrigation and rural sanitation systems. IFAP advocates investment in precision irrigation systems, such as drip irrigation. mproving irrigation technologies will increase yields while decreasing the demand for water, as well as reduce runoff. Farmer centered research and appropriate technology transfer are crucial to the successful establishment of efficient irrigation systems…. Read more

BirdLife has published a new paper – “Food security, climate change & biodiversity” – which coincided with the recently ended  meeting of the G8 agriculture ministers in Rome.

The paper reviews the relationship between food security, climate change and biodiversity. It attempts to dispel the arguments put forward by some interest groups that last year’s ‘food crisis’ presents a case for the EU to increase food production. It is argued that the EU should focus its efforts on supporting forms of food production that are sustainable in the long term, both within Europe and in developing countries. BirdLife state that conserving soil, water and biodiversity resources, maintaining healthy agro-ecosystems, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the livestock sector are key to maintaining EU agricultural productivity and long-term food security.

More information can be found here.