Harnessing Digital Technologies for Smarter Water Management in Agriculture 2025

Droughts are intensifying in length, frequency and severity. Between 2000 and 2022, droughts grew in number and duration by 29% compared to the previous two decades.4 This alarming trend is likely driven by human-induced climate change, turning what was once a natural component of Earth’s climate cycle into a persistent threat to ecosystems, economies and communities. Unlike sudden climate disasters, droughts unfold gradually and often go unnoticed until their impact is extensive. Their gradual onset masks their severity, which manifests only when food security, economic stability and ecosystems are already strained.5 Four billion people experience water stress for at least one month of the year and countries with the fastest population growth are among the most impacted.7 The World Bank estimates that global demand for freshwater will rapidly surpass supply, as growing populations, urbanization and shifting consumption trends drive up water withdrawals (see Figure 1).8 Global water consumption is expected to increase by 20-50% over current figures by 2050, with industrial and domestic sectors growing at the highest rate.9 Introduction Effective water management in agriculture is the key entry point to achieving water resilience amid climate-driven disruptions. By 2025, 1.8 billion people are likely to face what the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) calls “absolute water scarcity” and two-thirds of the global population is expected to be grappling with water stress.6 United Nations Global water scarcity will intensify by 2050 as population growth accelerates demand FIGURE 1 High risk Very high risk N/A Low-no riskCompound fertility and water stress Medium-low risk Note: This map overlays projected population growth with the availability of water by 2050. Source: World Bank (2023).4 billion people experience water stress for at least one month of the year