CELEBRATION OF AQUASTAT'S 30th ANNIVERSARY AND JOINT FAO-UN-WATER BRIEFING ON THE UN SYSTEM-WIDE STRATEGY ON WATER AND SANITATION Opening Remarks

Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Dear Colleagues,

I am pleased to welcome you to FAO, together with my colleague, Alvaro Lario, President of IFAD.

Today, we come together for two important reasons:

First: to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Global Information System on Water and Agriculture - AQUASTAT - the leading source of global water and agriculture data; and

Second: to provide an overview of the UN System-wide Strategy on Water and Sanitation, where FAO is one of the key contributors.

The FAO Strategic Framework 2022-31 focuses on supporting Members in transforming their agrifood systems to be more efficient, more inclusive, more resilient and more sustainable – and water is elementary to this transformation.

With agriculture accounting for over 70 percent of global freshwater withdrawals, efficient and sustainable water use is essential for both food security and water security under the overarch of the Four Betters.

Producing enough foods for one person per day requires around 2000 to 5000 liters of water.

For this reason, there can be no food security without water security.

FAO works with Members and partners to tackle water challenges – whether it is too much, too little, or too polluted.

The right solutions require a package of actions based on robust and reliable and continuous and consistent data and information. 

Without evidence-based data, governments, institutions, and farmers cannot design, act, innovate and deliver. 

This is why FAO launched AQUASTAT and has been continued since 30 years ago, in line with our mandate to “collect, analyze and share information related to nutrition, food and agriculture” as set out in the FAO Constitution.

The goal of AQUASTAT is to provide clear, consistent and comparable water data globally, covering over 180 indicators with records dating back to 1960.

I, on behalf of FAO, salute all colleagues and partners for your long commitment and silent contribution.

And through the contributions of approximately 100 countries, it provides annual updates on how water is being used in agriculture, areas under pressure, and where action is needed most.

Over these last three decades, AQUASTAT has evolved to integrate geospatial information, including satellite data, giving us a fuller picture than ever before.

Dear Colleagues,

Let me highlight three important aspects of AQUASTAT:

First: AQUASTAT goes beyond statistics, beyond merely a database – it is a global point of reference.

It informs FAO reports, investment planning, and policies.

It serves as a core source for the UN World Water Development Report.

It helps identify problems before they become crises.

Today, 2.5 billion people live in water-stressed countries, and 10 percent of the global population faces high or critical water stress.

By tracking this information, AQUASTAT enables governments and organizations to take proactive measures.

Second: AQUASTAT tracks progress towards achieving clean water and sanitation for all.

FAO provides the required technical support to Members to help them use water more efficiently and to reduce water stress. To do this, we need to ensure that agricultural water use is both efficient and sustainable.

FAO works closely with UN-Water through the Integrated Monitoring Initiative, and we have been actively engaged in global water governance since the establishment of UN-Water in 2003.

Two years ago, the UN convened the first UN Water Conference to review the progress made in the UN Water Action Decade from 2018 to 2028.

I personally moderated the Dialogue on Water Action Decade, during which FAO announced eight commitments to the Global Water Action Agenda.

I continue to lead the third Rome Water Dialogues at the World Food Forum 2025 in October.

And Third: AQUASTAT reminds us that water is a public good to be valued and protected.

As we celebrate 30 years since the establishment of AQUASTAT, this year also marks FAO’s 80th anniversary, and I encourage Members and partners to use this occasion to further enhance and strengthen our collaboration in water, and beyond.

We must prioritize and mainstream water in policies and strategies, and value it as a public good essential for food security.

FAO remains committed to this agenda, and, together with our Members, we reaffirmed this commitment by making integrated water resources management FAO’s biennial theme for 2024-25.

We are also implementing the Conceptual Framework for Integrated Land and Water Resources Management, which is FAO’s organizational strategy on water.

I look forward to seeing you all in October, to show that we can do even more and better together to ensure a world with the Four Betters – for which water is essential: better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life.

Thank you.