Food and water security

Food security and water security in the Mediterranean are intrinsically linked and are facing similar challenges. Food security is threatened mainly by the high dependency of Mediterranean countries on food imports, making them vulnerable to external pressures such as volatile food prices. From a nutritional standpoint, the number of overweight and obese people has increased as a result of the traditional Mediterranean diet being abandoned. Water security has degenerated due to the deterioration of internal freshwater resources, both in terms of water quantity and quality, with a high dependency on external water resources, higher regional water footprints than the global average, increasing scarcity of renewable water resources, an increased number and capacity of dams exerting pressure on freshwater ecosystems, and a growing risk of conflicts between water users and countries. Access to water and sanitation remains a major challenge in the region. Territorial divisions separating coastal urban and remote rural areas are growing stronger, making isolated populations such as smallholder farmers particularly at risk of food and water insecurity. With climate change, precipitation is expected to decrease and temperatures to rise in the region, which will affect water supply (and thereby energy and food supply). It will also directly affect soil moisture and crop growth, thereby further increasing irrigation water needs.

Sustainable Development Goals:

Climate Action

Life Below Water