Food and Water Security – Adaptation Strategies Part 1

Fresh water availability is crucial for food security as it is required for crop and livestock production. Population growth combined with dietary shifts and increasing relevance of non-food crops heavily increase the pressure on fresh water resources. At the same time, climate change strongly affects the spatial and temporal availability of fresh water. To ensure food security, especially concerning healthy diets, it is necessary to understand the impact of irrigation on nutrient composition (e.g. micronutrients) of crops and further food products. Considering these developments, scientifically based solutions are necessary to ensure water and therewith food security for future generations.

Studies presented in this session combine multidisciplinary approaches of climate change impact assessment and farmers’ adaptation strategies, decision support tool development, and the development of alternative water use strategies.

• Water use efficiency
• Smart irrigation
• Nutritional value

We expect contributions, which highlight innovative sustainable solutions with respect to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Multidisciplinary approaches taking into account different stakeholder levels and/or collaborations are key elements for the achievement of the SDG’s. Besides technical solutions such as water-saving technologies, also, ICT based teaching tools, stakeholder involvement or innovative research ideas for future solutions can be presented in this session. SDG Synergies and trade-offs (e.g. conflict of objectives) can discussed as well. Best-practice examples connecting water security, food security, and climate change are highly welcome.