The notion that water is a precious resource, which is to be used effectively and efficiently, is widely shared. Many people are becoming aware that not all water can be used to satisfy productive needs. Some water needs to be specifically allocated for preserving ecosystems. What we are gradually learning - through our involvement in the Water for Food and Ecosystems Programme - is that denying adequate amounts of water to sustain ecosystems will eventually lead to degradation of the resource. Hence, not enough water for ecosystems results in not enough water and leads to not enough food!

Reducing agricultural water needs requires concerted actions at many geographical and institutional levels ranging from the individual farm field to international river-basins. We learned that it is impossible to formulate a project which addresses all of the relevant issues at all institutional levels. Instead, we started with projects with an initial focus on a particular problem occurring at a particular level. In these projects, we help stakeholders to learn how to improve problem situations with outcomes that are ecologically, economically and socially desirable and feasible. In many cases, this has led to a widening of the scope of the initial project and joining of new parties – stakeholders, researchers and investors.
Other projects aim at the development and application of remote sensing and modelling tools. These tools allow decision-makers at various levels to evaluate planning scenarios as well as monitor the effects of interventions. More recently, we started on projects which focus on a particular river basin. By following these approaches, we expect to contribute to building up the international knowledge base for agricultural water demand management while at the same time help local stakeholders to learn help themselves.

The Ministerial Declaration of The Hague on Water Security in the 21st Century indicates that neither the threats to water security are new nor the attempts to address them. Reference is made to statements at the International Water Conference in Mar del Plata (1977) and chapter 18 on water in Agenda 21 (Rio 1992). The Mar del Plata conference already emphasized the need for Integrated Water Resources Management. The chapter on water (18) in Agenda 21 states: “The fragmentation of responsibilities for water resources development among sectoral agencies is proving, however, to be an even greater impediment to promoting integrated water management than had been anticipated”.
We learned that the agricultural sector is just as fragmented as the water sector. Confronted with a water scarcity problem, the plant breeder will breed a drought resistant plant, the agronomist recommends contour ploughing and mulching and the agricultural engineer promises a new irrigation design that will greatly improve water use efficiency. How do we overcome this battle between the agro-specialists? By working together in one project and by explaining our preferred solutions to the local stakeholders. This forces us to do the explaining in everyday language. Then, we experience that some of the ideas from the other specialized fields seem quite reasonable. The next thing we discover is that local stakeholders have a special talent for deciding what really is practical. By combining our special talents we arrive at solutions that none of us would have been capable of alone.