Water scarcity in agriculture: challenges for global water security and sustainable food production
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.62452/zkcjjf72Keywords:
Water scarcity, sustainable agriculture, food security, climate change, water managementAbstract
Water scarcity has become one of the most critical environmental and socioeconomic challenges affecting global agriculture, food security, and sustainable development in the twenty-first century. Increasing population growth, climate change, environmental degradation, urbanization, and unsustainable agricultural practices are intensifying pressure on freshwater resources worldwide, threatening both agricultural productivity and human well-being. The objective of this study was to analyze the principal causes and consequences of water scarcity in agriculture and evaluate its impact on global water security and sustainable food production. The study was developed using a qualitative analytical methodology supported by a comprehensive narrative literature review. Scientific articles, institutional reports, and academic investigations published between 2015 and 2026 were analyzed through recognized scientific databases and international organizations. The analysis followed a thematic and interpretative approach focused on climate change, agricultural water management, food insecurity, environmental degradation, governance, and sustainable agriculture. The findings demonstrated that water scarcity significantly threatens agricultural systems by reducing crop productivity, degrading ecosystems, increasing food insecurity, and intensifying social and economic inequalities. The results also revealed that inefficient irrigation systems, groundwater overexploitation, pollution, and weak governance accelerate global water stress. However, sustainable agriculture, technological innovation, precision irrigation, wastewater reuse, and climate-smart management strategies were identified as essential alternatives for improving water-use efficiency and promoting long-term environmental sustainability.
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