21st Century Challenges

The real issue in food production is not whether we should go for intensive agriculture, GM crops or organic but future water availability, says an environmental think-tank

Meat wastes water, creates greenhouse gases and could become as socially unacceptable as drink-driving

As the world's population grows, competition for food, water and energy will increase. Food prices will rise, more people will go hungry, and migrants will flee the worst-affected regions.

Rising populations, improving lifestyles and changes to the global climate are all increasing the pressure on the planet's water resources. Conservation expert Brian Richter explains why there is an urgent need for the world to embrace new ways in which it uses water.

With rich, resource-poor nations increasingly outsourcing their food production to less developed nations, a new website aims to expose the extent of the agricultural land-grab epidemic. South Korea’s biggest is 1.3 million hectares in Madagascar. China’s is 1.24 million in the Philippines. Qatar’s most problematic is 40,000 hectares in Kenya. We’re talking breadbaskets, parcels of land bought in poorer countries where food is grown to feed foreign markets.

Hosepipe bans will be extended so households cannot fill swimming pools, wash windows or clean the patio during a dry spell as part of new legislation to deal with the increased threat of droughts and flooding.

Major project for Xinjiang province amid concerns over future water supply

Recent rains mean nothing; the city must get serious about dealing with water shortages.

Water, or lack of it, has moved rapidly up the agenda for British businesses. A report published today by the environmental group WWF highlights why the issue is suddenly being taken so seriously. UK Water Footprint calculates for the first time how much water British consumers use, not just directly, but also indirectly due to the large volumes required to produce the globally-sourced, all year round foods and textile fibres which we now take for granted.

We need to change the way we eat if we are to tackle the looming catastrophe of water scarcity

Ethical shopping just got harder – but the latest attempt to help conscientious consumers calculate their impact on the environment could do more to preserve scarce resources than all its predecessors.

Western companies have the know-how - and the financial incentive - to supply water to poor nations. But, as Richard Wachman reports, their involvement is already provoking unrest