The 5th World Water Forum was held in Istanbul, Turkey, from March 16th to 22nd, 2009. A variety of events throughout the week aimed to focus on just one overarching theme: “Bridging Divides for Water”. The main theme of the 5th World Water Forum (WWF5) was Bridging Divides for Water. A...

Biotechnology tools can play a valuable role in addressing the challenge of water scarcity in developing countries, but many applications of biotechnology relevant to water scarcity have not yet delivered practical solutions to farmers. This was one of the main messages...

21 January 2009, Rome - Delegates from more than 60 countries are meeting in Rome (21-23 January 2009) to continue negotiations on a global plan of action for adapting to global changes that affect how countries manage freshwater resources. The meeting is part of preparations for the 5th World Water Forum,...

17 December 2008, Sirte, Libya - A three-day pan-African ministerial Conference pledged today to promote water development throughout the continent to fully exploit Africa's agricultural and hydroenergy potential. In a final Declaration, the Conference, on Water for Energy and Agriculture in Africa: the Challenges of Climate Change, noted that water is...

Water is the lifeblood for the people of Afghanistan, not just for living but also for the economy. The economy has traditionally been dominated by agriculture, which now accounts for over half the GDP (Gross Domestic Product) and employs 66% of...

Soil information, from global to local scale, has often been the one missing biophysical information layer, which absence added to the uncertainties of predicting potentials and constraints for food and fibre production. The lack of reliable and harmonized soil data has...

FAO and IFAD have recently produced a report where they argue about the existing potentials for well-targeted, local interventions in water that can contribute to the rapid improvement in the livelihoods of the rural poor in SSA. The same interventions that can...

Tropical coastal deltas represent one of the most diverse and rapidly changing biophysical regions in the developing world. These deltas are home to large population centers such as Dhaka, Yangon and Bangkok, and are significant centers of agricultural production and industrial development. Coastal deltas also contain critical ecosystems such as...

19 December 2007, Rome – High levels of arsenic in rice could be reduced by applying improved irrigation management practices in Asia, FAO said today in a new report entitled Remediation of Arsenic for Agriculture Sustainability, Food Security and Health in Bangladesh. Studies have shown that high concentrations of arsenic in...

11 December 2007, Rome – Higher temperatures are affecting mountain ecosystems and their populations, as melting glaciers increase short term water availability but also raise the likelihood of flooding, species migration and long term water shortage, FAO warned today during the commemoration of the International Day of Mountains. “As glaciers disappear...