Report warns current practices can feed less than half of future population as global demand rises toward 2050
By Bunmi Yekini
A major rethink of how water is used in agriculture could help feed a growing global population and create up to 245 million long-term jobs, most of them in sub-Saharan Africa, the World Bank Group said in a report released on Thursday.
The report, titled “Nourish and Flourish: Water Solutions to Feed 10 Billion People on a Livable Planet,” warns that current farming practices, where water is overused in some regions and underutilised in others, are unsustainable and could support food production for less than half of the world’s future population.
With the global population expected to reach 10 billion by 2050, the institution said balancing water use across countries will be critical to ensuring enough food is produced without exhausting natural resources.
“The way we manage water for food will have profound implications for jobs, livelihoods and economic growth,” said Paschal Donohoe, Managing Director and Chief Knowledge Officer of the World Bank Group.
The report introduces a framework that links water availability with food production and trade, helping countries determine whether to expand rainfed farming, invest in irrigation, conserve water resources, or rely more on imports.
It highlights that while some water-scarce regions continue to grow water-intensive crops, other areas with abundant rainfall have untapped agricultural potential. Correcting this imbalance, the report said, could boost productivity, create jobs and improve resilience to climate change.
To achieve this, the bank called for stronger collaboration between governments and the private sector, noting that public funding alone will not be enough to scale irrigation systems and modernise agriculture.
“Farmers are already willing to co-invest when risks are reduced through access to finance, equipment, markets and digital tools,” said Guangzhe Chen, Vice President for Planet at the World Bank Group.
The report estimates that expanding and upgrading irrigation systems will require between $24 billion and $70 billion annually through 2050. It suggests that governments could redirect part of the roughly $490 billion they already spend each year on agricultural subsidies toward more sustainable investments.
The World Bank Group also said it plans to double its agribusiness financing to $9 billion annually by 2030 and mobilise an additional $5 billion each year through its AgriConnect initiative, aimed at helping smallholder farmers move beyond subsistence farming.
The lender said aligning water management with food production and trade policies could help countries meet rising demand while protecting ecosystems and supporting economic growth.