World Water Day: Integrating FAO geospatial data to strengthen monitoring of global groundwater resources

Water is fundamental to grow and produce our food, yet we are constantly being challenged with the need to produce more with less. As the global population grows, we need to make sure there’s enough water to go around and data can help us use this natural resource as efficiently as possible.

On this year’s World Water Day, FAO is raising awareness on the importance of groundwater for humans, animals, and plants. In fact, 70% of global groundwater withdrawals are used for agriculture and around 30% of all water used for irrigation is groundwater. Yet, groundwater is being over-used in many areas of the world, threatening to undermine basic water supply, climate resilience, and food security. 

Technology and data are key to solving this problem.

Data-driven Digital Public Goods are becoming increasingly important enabling tools for sustainable agricultural transformation. Thanks to new developments in earth observation technology, we can more accurately monitor and manage the many variables required to ensure food security while minimizing environmental impacts, like groundwater use and management.

How is the HiH Geospatial Platform bringing together FAO geospatial data?

The Hand-in-Hand Geospatial Platform - the enabling tool for the Hand-in-Hand Initiative - is one of the many ways that FAO is using data and technology to strengthen support to countries and farmers. This year, the Digitalization and Informatics Division has teamed up with the Land and Water Division to integrate FAO’s portal to monitor Water Productivity through Open-access of Remotely sensed derived data (WaPOR) and FAO's Global Information System on Water and Agriculture (AQUASTAT).

To put this to into context, check out** this map story** made possible by the HiH Geospatial Platform to find out more about a study carried out by FAO’s Land and Water Division to evaluate the potential of WaPOR data as a tool for the monitoring of groundwater resources in the Azraq groundwater basin in Jordan. 

Read more about how the Land and Water Division is using WaPOR data as a tool for groundwater resource management here.