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Global water crisis and future food security in an era of climate change

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  • Hanjra, Munir A.
  • Qureshi, M. Ejaz

Abstract

Food policy should serve humanity by advancing the humane goals of eradicating extreme poverty and hunger. However, these goals have recently been challenged by emerging forces including climate change, water scarcity, the energy crisis as well as the credit crisis. This paper analyses the overall role of these forces and population growth in redefining global food security. Specifically, global water supply and demand as well as the linkages between water supply and food security are examined. The analysis reveals that the water for food security situation is intricate and might get daunting if no action is taken. Investments are needed today for enhancing future food security; this requires action on several fronts, including tackling climate change, preserving land and conserving water, reducing the energy footprint in food systems, developing and adopting climate resilient varieties, modernising irrigation infrastructure, shoring up domestic food supplies, reforming international food trade, and responding to other global challenges.

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Bibliographic Info

Article provided by Elsevier in its journal Food Policy.

Volume (Year): 35 (2010)
Issue (Month): 5 (October)
Pages: 365-377

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Handle: RePEc:eee:jfpoli:v:35:y:2010:i:5:p:365-377

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Web page: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/foodpol

Related research

Keywords: Climate resilient Energy crisis Credit crisis Irrigation Food trade Prices;

References

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Citations

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Cited by:
  1. Fahim, Muhammad Amir, 2011. "Impact of water scarcity on food security at meso level in Pakistan," MPRA Paper 35759, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 23 Dec 2011.
  2. Fahim, Muhammad Amir, 2011. "Impact of water scarcity on food security at macro level in Pakistan," MPRA Paper 35758, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 10 Nov 2011.
  3. Fahim, Muhammad Amir, 2011. "Impact of water scarcity on food security at micro level in Pakistan," MPRA Paper 35760, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 02 Jan 2012.

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