Towards a High-level Dialogue on the Global Framework on Water Scarcity in Agriculture (WASAG)
Technical Preparatory Meeting
Date: 29 – 30 April 2024 | FAO headquarters (Red Room), Rome, Italy and online
Interpretation in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish available
Watch the recording of the event:
Day 1: 29 April 2024
Morning Session
Side event "Saline Agriculture"
Afternoon Session
Day 2: 30 April 2024
Morning Session
Side event "Advancing Ecosystem-based Solutions to agricultural water scarcity?"
Closing Session
Background
Water scarcity is one of the greatest challenges of the twenty-first century, especially for the agriculture sector. Droughts are already a major cause of crop failures in many areas of the world and of acute food insecurity crisis in vulnerable countries. With the world population reaching around 10 billion in 2050, we need to produce 50% more agrifood products than in 2012, which will require at least 20% more water. The changing rainfall patterns and warming climate put at risk the food security and the livelihoods of farmers and people worldwide.
In response to the above challenges, the Global Framework on Water Scarcity in Agriculture (WASAG), a partnership hosted by FAO, was officially launched at the 22nd Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in November 2016 in Marrakech, Morocco, and subsequently endorsed by 83 ministers in charge of agriculture in January 2017.
At the Second International Forum of WASAG held in February 2023 in Praia, Cabo Verde, through the Praia Call for Action participants recommended that: i) all Member Countries are invited to become partners of WASAG; ii) a Member Country will be designated to Chair WASAG, starting with Cabo Verde; iii) FAO convenes, every two years in its headquarters in Rome, a Dialogue on WASAG with all Member Countries; and iv) the WASAG Forum is convened in Praia every other second year to provide space to partners and stakeholders for sharing solutions and progress towards tackling water scarcity in agriculture.
In response to these recommendations, FAO included WASAG as one of its eight commitments to the Global Water Action Agenda at the UN 2023 Water Conference, brought water scarcity and WASAG to Rome Water Dialogues and the 43rd Session of FAO Conference, set up FAO Inter-regional Technical Networks on Water Scarcity, mobilized resources and implemented regional water scarcity initiatives such as the Water Scarcity Programme for Asia and the Pacific region and the Water Scarcity Initiative for the Near East and North Africa region. Furthermore, a Value-Added Impact Area (VAIA) on Addressing Water Scarcity in Agriculture and the environment (AWSAMe) launched its inception activities with the ongoing development of four global project proposals to promote drought resilient, nutritious indigenous crops to cope with water scarcity.
“The event "Towards a High-Level Dialogue on the Global Framework on Water Scarcity in Agriculture (WASAG) - Technical Preparatory Meeting", hosted by FAO, will take place from 29 to 30 April 2024 in hybrid mode at FAO headquarters (Red Room) in Rome, Italy and online.” This technical event will prepare for the High-Level Dialogue on WASAG which, together with the Rome Water Dialogue, will take place during the World Food Forum (WFF) in October 2024. Both events will consolidate and scale-up the WASAG partnership onto greater level of visibility, commitment, and impact.
Objectives
The event ‘Towards a High-Level Dialogue on WASAG – Technical Preparatory Meeting’ will have the following objectives:
- Prepare for the High-Level Dialogue on WASAG that will take place during the WFF in October 2024;
- Enhance collaboration and mobilize commitments to make WASAG more impactful and effective; and review key WASAG operating mechanisms;
- Share experiences and knowledge in addressing water scarcity by countries and related FAO global and regional initiatives; and
- Provide recommendations on priorities in addressing water scarcity in agriculture and to the Global Water related processes such as the forthcoming World Water Week and the World Water Forum.
Expected outcomes
- Recommended priorities for WASAG for the period 2025-2031, in support of the implementation of the FAO Strategic Framework 2022-2031;
- Recommended process for establishing a Member-led Steering Committee of WASAG by October 2024;
- Shared knowledge and experiences on addressing water scarcity in agriculture;
- A draft of the Rome Declaration on Water Scarcity in Agriculture which will be presented for adoption during the High-Level Dialogue on WASAG.
Expected participants
• Representatives and experts of FAO Permanent Representations.
• Representatives of regional organizations.
• Representatives of other intergovernmental agencies and international organizations
• Representatives of UN agencies.
• Representatives of academia, civil society organizations, water users, farmers associations and private sector organizations.
AGENDA
Day 1 – Monday 29 April 2024 (CEST)
9:00–9:30 – Opening ceremony
9:00–9:30 – Opening ceremony
Welcome remarks from the FAO Land and Water Division:
- Lifeng Li, Director Land and Water Division, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Welcome remarks from the FAO countries Representatives:
- H.E. Marcel Beukeboom, Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to FAO
- H.E. Bruno Archi, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Italy to FAO
- H.E. Krisztina Bende, Permanent Representative of Switzerland to FAO
- Elsa Barbosa Oliveira Marcelino Simões, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Republic of Cabo Verde to FAO
Moderator: Lifeng Li, Director Land and Water Division, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
9:30–9:35 – Video on water scarcity in agriculture
9:30–9:35 – Video on water scarcity in agriculture
9:35–11:00 – Roundtable with experts and senior officials of the FAO Permanent Representations
9:35–11:00 – Roundtable with experts and senior officials of the FAO Permanent Representations
Open discussion with Countries
Moderator: Lifeng Li, Director Land and Water Division, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
11:00–12:00 – WASAG operating mechanisms
11:00–12:00 – WASAG operating mechanisms
Welcome remarks:
- Felix Reinders, current Chair of WASAG Steering Committee
Presentation on the Plenary Assembly, Steering Committee, Technical Advisory Committee and International Forum:
- Jean Ruhiza Boroto, Senior Land and Water Officer, Land and Water Division, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Introduction to the discussion:
- Lifeng Li, Director Land and Water Division, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Discussion with countries
Moderator: Miguel da Moura, Secretary of Agricultural Economy, Cabo Verde
12:00–12:30 – Break/Visit to the exhibition in the Atrium
12:00–12:30 – Break/Visit to the exhibition in the Atrium
12:30–13:30 – Side event on 'Saline Agriculture' organized by the Permanent Representation of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in collaboration with the Dutch WASAG partners in the Sheikh Zayed Centre – Language: English - (with light lunch)
12:30–13:30 – Side event on 'Saline Agriculture' organized by the Permanent Representation of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in collaboration with the Dutch WASAG partners in the Sheikh Zayed Centre – Language: English - (with light lunch)
Opening:
- H.E. Marcel Beukeboom, Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to FAO
Short pitch on the WASAG Saline Agriculture Working Group activities
- Dionysia Angeliki Lyra, Halophyte Agronomist, International Center for Biosaline Agriculture, ICBA
Knowledge dissemination example 1 - Online introduction tour through the Saline Agriculture Map:
- Martijn van Staveren, Programme Advisor, Netherlands Water Partnership (NWP)
Panel discussion: from policy to practice:
- Miguel da Moura, Secretary of Agricultural Economy, Cabo Verde
- H.E. Bassam Rady, Permanent Representative of Egypt to FAO
- H.E. Ngor Ndiaye, Permanent Representative of Senegal to FAO
- Bas Bruning, Specialist Saline Agriculture, The Salt Doctors
Closing remarks - Hand over of the Salinity Magazine to FAO:
- H.E. Marcel Beukeboom, Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to FAO
Moderator: Babette Bodlaender, Coalition Builder, Netherlands Food Partnership (NFP)
13:30–14:00 – Break/Visit to the exhibition in the Atrium
13:30–14:00 – Break/Visit to the exhibition in the Atrium
14:00–15:00 – Technical session I The Need for an impactful WASAG
14:00–15:00 – Technical session I The Need for an impactful WASAG
Keynote presentation by FAO on global water scarcity challenge, added-value and unique role of WASAG
- Jean Ruhiza Boroto, Senior Land and Water Officer, Land and Water Division, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Pre-launch of the ‘Technical Guidelines for design and management of pressurized irrigation distribution systems’
- Nicola Lamaddalena, Professor Emeritus, former Deputy Director, Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Bari (CIHEAM - Bari)
Multi-stakeholder Panel moderated discussion:
- Mariet Verhoef-Cohen, President of the Women for Water Partnership (WfWP), current vice-Chair of WASAG
- Mohsin Hafeez, Director, Water, Food and Ecosystems, International Water Management Institute – Pakistan (IWMI-Pakistan)
- Vinay Nangia, Research Team Leader on Soils, Waters and Agronomy, International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA)
Question and discussion
Moderator: Chandra Madramootoo, Distinguished James McGill Professor, McGill University
15:00–16:00 – Technical session II National experiences from WASAG Working Group on saline agriculture
15:00–16:00 – Technical session II National experiences from WASAG Working Group on saline agriculture
Welcome Remarks
- Ruhiza Boroto, Senior Land and Water Officer, NSL
Video Promoting the Year of Saline Agriculture
Keynote presentation on the Saline Agriculture Working Group Activities
- Dionysia Angeliki Lyra, Halophyte Agronomist, International Center for Biosaline Agriculture, ICBA
Video from the Trainings in Uzbekistan and Cabo Verde
Dutch experience:
- Arjen de Vos, Founder and Director of the Salt Doctors
eHALOPH and the economic uses of salt-tolerant plants:
- Joaquim Santos, Data Manager, University of Coimbra
Multi-stakeholder Panel moderated discussion Countries:
- Marco Arcieri, President, International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage, ICID
- Kate Negacz, Assistant Professor, IVM Vrije University of Amsterdam
- Judit Snethlage, Researcher, Water and food team, Wageningen University & Research
- Countries experience Cabo Verde and Uzbekistan (Video)
Questions and discussion
Closing Remarks: Ruhiza Boroto, Senior Land and Water Officer, NSL
16:00–17:00 – Technical session III Regional experiences in addressing water scarcity in agriculture (Near East and North Africa, and Asia and the Pacific)
16:00–17:00 – Technical session III Regional experiences in addressing water scarcity in agriculture (Near East and North Africa, and Asia and the Pacific)
Water Scarcity Initiative for the Near East and North Africa:
- Heba Al-Hariry, Land and Water Officer, Regional Office for the Near East and North Africa, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Water Scarcity Programme for Asia and the Pacific
- Caroline Turner, Water Scarcity Programme Manager, Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Inter-Regional Technical Platform on Water Scarcity (iRTP-WS):
- Heba Al-Hariry, Land and Water Officer, Regional Office for the Near East and North Africa, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO
Moderator: Felix Reinders, current Chair of WASAG Steering Committee
17:30–19:00 – Reception on the FAO terrace (8th floor)
17:30–19:00 – Reception on the FAO terrace (8th floor)
Day 2 – Tuesday 30 April 2024 (CEST)
9:30–10:30 – Technical Session IV Priorities and operational matters
9:30–10:30 – Technical Session IV Priorities and operational matters
Report back on day 1 video
Presentation:
- Ania Grobicki, Senior Advisor, Land and Water Division, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Panel:
- Miguel da Moura, Secretary of Agricultural Economy, Cabo Verde
- Marco Arcieri, President, International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage, ICID
- Stephane Lako, Water Youth Network, current vice-Chair of WASAG
Question and discussion
Moderator: Mohsin Hafeez, Director, Water, Food and Ecosystems, International Water Management Institute – Pakistan (IWMI-Pakistan)
10:30–12:30 – Discussion
10:30–12:30 – Discussion
Presentation on The Rome Declaration on Water Scarcity in Agriculture
- Rosaida Dolce, Environment and Water Specialist, Land and Water Division, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
- Jean Ruhiza Boroto, Senior Land and Water Officer, Land and Water Division, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Questions and inputs from countries
Moderator: Jippe Hoogeveen, Senior Land and Water Officer, Land and Water Division, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
12:30–13:00 – Break/Visit to the exhibition in the Atrium
12:30–13:00 – Break/Visit to the exhibition in the Atrium
13:00–14:00 – Side Event on ‘Advancing Ecosystem-based Solutions to agricultural water scarcity?’ organized by the US WASAG Partners in the Sheikh Zayed Centre - Language: English - (with light lunch)
13:00–14:00 – Side Event on ‘Advancing Ecosystem-based Solutions to agricultural water scarcity?’ organized by the US WASAG Partners in the Sheikh Zayed Centre - Language: English - (with light lunch)
Welcome Remarks:
- Peter McCornick, Executive Director, Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute (DWFI)
Vignettes:
- Christopher Hartley, Senior Environmental Markets Analyst, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) - ONLINE
- Jennifer Riley-Chetwynd, Director of Marketing and Social Responsibility, Co-director One World One Water Center (OWOW)
- Christopher M. U. Neale, Director of Research, Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute (DWFI), University of Nebraska
- Julius Bright Ross, Employee of VISTANT, Contractor supporting the USAID Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance - ONLINE
Questions and discussion
Moderator: Peter McCornick, Executive Director, Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute (DWFI), University of Nebraska
14:00–14:30 – Break/ Visit to the Exhibition in the Atrium
14:00–14:30 – Break/ Visit to the Exhibition in the Atrium
14:30–16:30 – Closing ceremony
14:30–16:30 – Closing ceremony
Report back on day 1 and 2 video
Summary report of technical sessions:
- Jean Ruhiza Boroto, Senior Land and Water Officer, Land and Water Division, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Presentation of the Draft Rome Declaration on Water Scarcity in Agriculture:
- Felix Reinders, current Chair of WASAG Steering Committee
Closing remarks:
- Lifeng Li, Director Land and Water Division, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Moderator: Mariet Verhoef-Cohen, President of the Women for Water Partnership (WfWP), current vice-Chair of WASAG
Note: An exhibition will be displayed in the Atrium at FAO headquarters from 29 April to 3 May 2024, to raise awareness about WASAG in dealing with water scarcity in agriculture, and to share experiences