Smarter management of water resources across the global food system could help feed a projected population of 10 billion people by 2050 while creating nearly 245 million long-term jobs, many of them in sub-Saharan Africa, according to a new report released by the World Bank Group.
The report, titled Nourish and Flourish: Water Solutions to Feed 10 Billion People on a Livable Planet, said current agricultural water management practices, marked by overuse in some regions and underuse in others, cannot sustainably meet future food demand. Under existing systems, global agriculture can reliably support food production for less than half of the world’s population.
The World Bank said rebalancing how water is allocated, alongside smarter crop placement and stronger trade systems, could significantly increase food production while protecting ecosystems and improving economic resilience.
“The way we manage water for food will have profound implications for jobs, livelihoods, and economic growth,” said Paschal Donohoe, Managing Director and Chief Knowledge Officer of the World Bank Group. He added that better decisions on where crops are grown, how water is distributed and how trade supports food security can strengthen resilience and expand economic opportunity.
The report introduces a framework linking water availability with food production and international trade. Countries are grouped according to water stress levels and whether they are net food importers or exporters, helping policymakers identify where rainfed agriculture can expand output, where irrigation investments can unlock jobs and growth, and where trade may provide a more sustainable alternative to domestic production.
Expanding irrigation in areas with available water resources and modernising existing systems could require between $24bn and $70bn annually through 2050, the report said. Governments already spend about $490bn each year on agricultural support, largely through subsidies, and redirecting part of this funding towards sustainable water management could accelerate progress.
The institution said public funding alone would not deliver the scale required, calling for stronger private sector participation supported by effective policies, institutions and regulations. Farmers, who are the primary users and investors in irrigation systems, are more willing to co-invest when access to finance, markets, digital tools and quality equipment reduces risks and costs.
“When investments in infrastructure and natural resources, business-enabling policies, and private capital mobilisation come together, the impact can be greater than the sum of their parts,” said Guangzhe Chen, Vice President for Planet at the World Bank Group. He added that aligning global evidence with country realities can help governments balance food production needs with water and climate challenges.
The World Bank Group said it is working with countries and partners to translate the findings into action through policy reform, public investment and private capital mobilisation aimed at strengthening food systems and protecting natural resources. The institution plans to double annual agribusiness financing to $9bn by 2030 and mobilise an additional $5bn each year under its AgriConnect initiative to help smallholder farmers move from subsistence to surplus production.
The report highlights the growing importance of efficient water use as a central pillar of global food security, job creation and sustainable economic growth in the coming decades.
