A farmer in Viet Nam’s Mekong Delta uses a water pump and sensors that track water levels and send data to his phone to optimize irrigation for water-intensive rice. Photo credit: Linh Pham/The World Bank.
By 2050, 10 billion people will need to eat—and hundreds of millions will need better jobs and stronger livelihoods. Water is central to both. Smarter water management can help food systems produce more sustainably while creating jobs, raising incomes, and supporting broader economic growth.
At first glance, this can seem like a problem of water scarcity. But the evidence points to a broader challenge—and opportunity—about how water can be managed to support food production, jobs, and growth.
Global agriculture remains one of humanity’s greatest achievements, feeding billions every day. But as the population grows—by around 200,000 people daily—and climate-driven water stress intensifies, the challenge is whether we can sustain food production while supporting livelihoods and economic growth.
The real challenge is not how much water we have, but how unevenly it is used to grow food across the world. Some regions underuse abundant water, holding back growth, jobs, and incomes. Others continue to produce food by overexploiting already scarce resources —sometimes exporting crops they cannot sustainably support.
This imbalance is not inevitable— it reflects policy and investment choices, and it can be addressed.
The answer starts with how we manage water. The World Bank Group’s Nourish and Flourish report shows that smarter water management for agriculture is central to meeting this challenge.
Countries face very different starting points when it comes to water and food production. Some have abundant water and untapped agricultural potential, and others are already under severe water stress and need to use every drop more productively.
Some rely on food imports as a deliberate economic strategy, while others are import-dependent not by choice but by necessity, held back by inadequate infrastructure and unrealized agricultural potential. And others are major exporters shaping global markets.
These differences matter. The path forward is not a single solution, but better alignment between water, food production, and economic priorities— tailored to each country’s reality.
In regions where rainfall is unreliable, sustainable irrigation can sharply increase yields— sometimes more than doubling them. It can also create at least 245 million jobs globally, particularly where agriculture remains central to livelihoods.
Better water management is not just about food— it is a powerful driver of jobs and growth.
Turning this into results requires three shifts.
First, stronger coordination and leadership. Countries that have successfully transformed agricultural water systems treat water as a strategic issue— bringing together agriculture, environment, finance, water institutions, and broader society around a shared vision.
Second, shift incentives and services toward performance. Too often, public spending rewards overuse or stops at infrastructure. The opportunity is to focus on reliable service delivery, with clear accountability for results. With the right policies and regulations, governments can crowd in private sector participation, scale investment, and deliver better outcomes for farmers.
Third, use data and technology to guide decisions. Too many decisions are still made with incomplete information. Expanding satellite data, digital tools, and open systems can improve planning, strengthen accountability, and enable smarter water use.
These shifts are already underway in countries around the world. In Jordan, public–private partnerships such as the As-Samra wastewater treatment plant show how long-term concessions can mobilize private investment while increasing the availability of treated water for irrigation and other productive uses. In Nigeria, the Transforming Irrigation Management Project has promoted smarter irrigation practices while expanding irrigated land, producing enough crops to feed nearly one million people, primarily farming households and rural communities. In Türkiye, the Irrigation Modernization Project is replacing existing open irrigation channels with underground piped systems that reduce water losses and conserve groundwater.
Nourish and Flourish documents many of these solutions to demonstrate how countries are expanding irrigation sustainably where water is available, improving water productivity where it is scarce, and mobilizing private capital through stronger policies, partnerships, and risk-sharing mechanisms.
The benefits extend far beyond agriculture.
This is why the World Bank Group is advancing Water Forward— a strategic effort to move water from a source of risk to a driver of jobs, growth, and resilience.
Feeding the future is not just about producing more— it is about making better choices now.
Align water, food, and investment— and countries can deliver food security, create jobs, and support growth on a livable planet.
Join the Conversation