The world’s freshwater systems are buckling under pressure from climate change, pollution and over-extraction. Water demand is predicted to exceed supply by 40% within five years. Agriculture – which consumes 70% of freshwater withdrawals – is at particular risk, given food production must increase 60% by mid-century. The food-water nexus is now a critical imperative: humanity needs to rebalance its relationship with water.

Innovation can turn constraints into catalysts. China sustains 20% of the global population with self-sufficient staple foods, despite having just 6% of the world’s freshwater and 9% of its arable land. Middle East countries account for ​​40% of global desalination output​​, with growing use of solar technologies.

This report proposes 12 high-impact innovations in technology and business models across agriculture and food, water and cross-sector technologies. However, transformation of food and water systems also requires collaborative, public-private approaches that bridge the disparate domains of policy, finance, skills training and grassroots implementation.