Post by account_disabled on Feb 22, 2024 1:56:50 GMT -5
Soil and water are intrinsically linked. From how they are protected, how they are managed and how they are valued in all economic sectors, there is a clear connection. The decisions we make about one can have big impacts on the other. Few industries depend on a healthy, balanced relationship between soil and water as much as the $5 trillion global food and agriculture sector. Current unsustainable agricultural practices, such as the use of excessive fertilizers and pesticides and intensive tillage on farms, are unbalancing this relationship, leading to pollution of water resources and soil erosion. Nitrate runoff is the most common groundwater contaminant in the world, contributing to drinking water insecurity and dead zones around the world. At the same time, the growing climate and water crisis is accentuating the imbalance, as pollution, population growth and global warming increasingly threaten the availability and quality of water. The United Nations estimates that water demand will exceed supply by 40% by 2030, while access to water will be further affected by extreme weather events such as stronger storms and longer droughts. What is the solution? The good news is that companies with large agricultural supply chains can do something about the water crisis.
Companies in the food, beverage and clothing sectors are the largest users of water globally, responsible for using more than 70% of freshwater resources. These companies, along with their suppliers and customers, will be the first to feel the financial repercussions when agricultural production becomes volatile or when water becomes scarcer. That's why companies must step up to play a critical role in fighting the climate and water crisis and can do their part by joining the Ceres and WWF AgWater Challenge . Two leading organizations are teaming up again to encourage Bulgaria Mobile Number List more companies to take action on water. This time a new framework is being released focusing on sustainable agriculture principles that will enable companies to achieve strong water goals, with an emphasis on improving soil health and nutrient management practices for key products. basic products produced in high-risk basins. Enterprise water stewardship is vital to the long-term resilience and sustainability of agricultural production and supply chains and, more broadly, to the health and stability of communities and the economy. With these new principles, it is hoped to inspire a movement of action within the food, beverage and clothing sectors that challenges companies and their peers to continue stimulating each other.
As part of the AgWater Challenge, companies will carry out sustainable agricultural practices that are locally relevant and take into account: The types of crops. Climatic variations. Regional economic and cultural agricultural practices. Those practices: They will boost crop productivity. They will reduce soil erosion. They will increase water retention. They will improve biodiversity and water quality. Soil carbon levels will increase. All of this can contribute to mitigating climate change. Companies will also provide technical or financial support to farmers growing their products to help drive the adoption of these practices and promote collective protection of watersheds. The final result The joint water and climate benefits of sustainable agricultural practices will boost agricultural productivity and watershed health, and ensure a water-secure future. The AgWater Challenge comes at a time when the world is also grappling with another compounding economic threat: a deadly pandemic. COVID-19 highlighted the vulnerabilities of all the systems we depend on and reminds us of the threats we expose ourselves to if we do not take action to achieve a water-safe future. It is critical that companies strive to make their global supply chains stronger and more resilient to such future shocks.