EIT Food recognises the need for a comprehensive strategic assessment of water scarcity risks in agri-food ecosystems, as water is a critical component of climate resilience, influencing agricultural productivity, food security, and ecosystem health.
Fresh Thoughts conducted a strategic assessment addressing blue water scarcity risks across European agri-food ecosystems. An analysis of water scarcity risks, examining water availability, quality, socioeconomic impacts, and governance challenges while identifying knowledge gaps and outlooks, was provided. Furthermore, the assessment examined critical dependencies between water and food systems across key agricultural sectors, including meat and livestock, dairy, cereals, fruits, vegetables, wine, oilseeds, fisheries, and aquaculture, highlighting vulnerabilities to water shortages and their impact on production, costs, and global food security. Based on a questionnaire analysis, which was informed by these findings, Fresh Thoughts developed evidence-based recommendations to provide EIT Food with strategies to reduce water scarcity risks in agri-food ecosystems.
The three tasks completed were:
- Identification and Assessment of Risks
- Evaluation of Dependencies and Links between Water and Food Systems
- Recommendations