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Launch of ‘The State of Food and Agriculture (SOFA) 2020’

Statement by the Director-General 

26 November 2020

As delivered

Ladies and Gentlemen,

1. Welcome to the launch of the 2020 edition of The State of Food and Agriculture, SOFA,
2. As mentioned by Ms Yasmina, it was the first publication of UN System since 1947. You can see, in 73 years, FAO can continue to do the same flagship publication. That has really built up FAO’s international reputation and impact. I would like to congratulate my colleagues, and also to our former colleagues for their contribution, for their consistence, for their persistence and also for their focus to build up this accumulated reputation.
3. SOFA theme of this year is “overcoming water challenges in agriculture”.
4. It is easy for me to explain the importance of this theme. Our very existence depends on water: We need water to drink! We need water to grow food and water is also needed to prepare it!
5. River is the cradle of the civilization. If we look at the Asian and African history, the Arabic and Egypt were nourished by Nile river, the Yellow River nourished the Chinese and others so to the Middle East. Many Asian ancient civilizations were all closely related to water. In addition, we also had some historic lessons: as the river extinguished, the civilization then disappeared.
6. Water-related ecosystems are critical to sustaining livelihoods, food security and nutrition.
7. Uncontaminated freshwater is at the core of healthy agri-food systems: Pastoralists need it for their stock, fisherfolk for their livelihoods, and food processors to ensure food safety.
8. Water is an essential resource to achieve many SDGs. 
9. However, this report finds that the lives of over a billion people are severely constrained by water scarcity or water shortages.
10. The efforts of all stakeholders are necessary to overcome these constraints because without timely action the problem will only get worse.
11. Freshwater resources are becoming increasingly scarce as populations grow, incomes increase and diets change.
12. This is a very dangerous path for water-related ecosystems and the livelihoods that depend on them.
13. Rainfed agriculture is being seriously challenged as inadequate rainfall is leading to growing water shortages, and climate change is making things worse.
14. To put it in perspective, almost 800 million hectares, or 14%, of rainfed cropland and pastureland are severely affected by recurring drought.
15. Furthermore, over 60 percent of irrigated cropland (171 million hectares) are under high to very high water stress.
16. And growing competition for water resources worsens inequality in access to water, leaving behind the poorest and most vulnerable, such as small-scale farmers and women, and entire communities such as inland fisherfolk.
17. We cannot ignore these serious challenges!
18. SOFA sends a strong message: water shortages and scarcity in agriculture must be addressed immediately and boldly.
19. Agriculture is central to the water-related challenges we face to achieve the SDGs. On the one hand, rainfed agriculture accounts for more than half of the world’s food production. On the other hand, irrigated agriculture accounts for over 70 percent of global water withdrawals. 
20. Clearly, our success in addressing water-related challenges in agriculture passes through a much more efficient use of water resources both in rainfed and irrigated agriculture.
21. This is the only way to produce more with limited water resources. It sounds obvious, but it is not, because using water more efficiently must be done while helping preserve water-related ecosystems that sustain livelihoods and ensuring equitable access to water for all.
22. With this in view, SOFA presents three major entry points for action that depend on each other: (i) technical and management options; (ii) the institutions and legal frameworks needed; and (iii) the overall policy environment to promote sustainable water use.
23. At the technical and management level, large productivity gains can be achieved through investments in rainwater harvesting and conservation, improved irrigation systems, alongside the use of drought-tolerant varieties, improved grazing and innovative technologies, which can be appealing and adoptable to both decision-makers and farmers.
24. For example, FAO's Global Information System on Water and Agriculture: AQUASTAT, depends on geospatial datasets, to collect and analyze national-level data of water resources and their usage in agriculture across 147 countries.
25. By presenting accurate information in a consistent and standard way, AQUASTAT can guide farmers to sustainably use water for agricultural development and rural development.
26. Effective institutional and legal frameworks are needed to create an inclusive, enabling environment for these actors.
27. In this respect, the report stresses the importance of water accounting and auditing, secure water and land tenure, and mechanisms for ensuring incentives for effective water use.
28. Community-based water user associations can often play a crucial role in the improved management of water.
29. Finally, the overall policy environment is key to promoting sustainable management of water. In particular, the right incentives need to be in place.
30. Here, I would like to draw your attention to the importance of the overall policy. We have to look at water related issues from the overall perspective of economic, social, environmental sustainability,  and also the livelihood of the people, not only farmers but also urban citizens. We have to share the cost for the water efficiency and sustainability.
31. If subsidies on inputs and energy promote inefficient water use, efforts to improve water productivity may be made in vain.
32. Coordination across sectors and geographic areas to ensure policy coherence is also essential for a favourable policy environment. 
33. I conclude by highlighting the urgency of the problem at hand and the central role of agriculture and all of us in addressing growing water scarcity and shortages.
34. I invite you to consult this report. In it, you will find a package of possible actions to address these challenges.
35. Turning these “potential solutions” into “reality” on the ground will contribute to the realization of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
36. Water is essential, not only for agriculture, but for life and for civilization to continue.

Thank you.