As the human population has grown, the global food requirements have increased as well and with it the requirement to water needed to produce the necessary food. At present, most of the global water use is accounted for by the agricultural sector, estimated at about 70%. Historically, water–food interrelationships have always been important. However, in recent years, these linkages have become more and more complex because of national and international politics, social and environmental considerations, different forms and levels of subsidies and tariffs applied to food products in different countries, globalisation, free trade, changing standards of living, institutional and legal requirements, technological developments and management practices.
By Asit K. Biswas and Cecilia Tortajada, Chapter of the book: Water Management in 2020 and Beyond, edited by Asit K. Biswas, Cecilia Tortajada and Rafael Izquierdo, 2009, Springer, Berlin, pages 1-34. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-540-89346-2_1