The World Water Forum is the largest international gathering in the water sector involving various stakeholders, which has been co-hosted by the World Water Council and a host city. The Forum is held every three years and has been taking place since 1997. The World Water Forum is not just a conference: it includes a three-year preparation phase (preparatory phase), a one-week event (event phase), and a presentation of the results (synthesis phase) with ongoing support for collective action. The Forum brings together participants from all levels and areas, including politics, multilateral institutions, academia, civil society and the private sector,...

Water can create peace or spark conflict. When water is scarce or polluted, or when people have unequal, or no access, tensions can rise between communities and countries. More than 3 billion people worldwide depend on water that crosses national borders. Yet, only 24 countries have cooperation agreements for all their shared water. As climate change impacts increase, and populations grow, there is an urgent need, within and between countries, to unite around protecting and conserving our most precious resource. Public health and prosperity, food and energy systems, economic productivity and environmental integrity all rely on a well-functioning and equitably...

From 29 to 30 January 2024, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) will host a technical workshop on whole genome sequencing (WGS) application in water and foodborne disease outbreaks in Lima, Peru. The meeting is being organized jointly with the United States Food and Drug Administration (US FDA).

Global knowledge of pre-harvest factors in food safety with the water quality issue is currently drawing an attention as...

Background and rationale

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), were adopted by the United Nations in 2015 as a universal call to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that by 2030 all people enjoy peace and prosperity. Within the framework of this Agenda, FAO is working with member countries to ensure that the use of water in agriculture will be more efficient, productive, equitable and respectful of the environment. This means producing more food using less water, building the resilience of farming communities to cope with floods and droughts, and promoting innovative water...