No water, no food: Water for resilient agri-food systems from field to fork
COP30 Event
A roundtable discussion bringing together experts and professionals to shine a spotlight on how better governance and decision-making can unlock water’s potential as a driver of sustainable agri-food systems, from field to fork.
Date: November 12, 2025
Time: 16:40 - 17:55
Place: Auditorium A2, AgriZone, Belém, Brazil
Organizers: Water Resilience Tracker (AGWA, IWMI), Diageo
With its unique biomes and territorial variations, Brazil struggles with diverse climate impacts that alter hydrological cycles. These variations could have an estimated economic impact of USD 184.1 billion by 2050, equivalent to 9.7% of Brazil’s 2022 GDP. Intense agricultural and livestock activities, which represent over 50% of the country’s water demands, are a cornerstone of Brazil’s economy, but are particularly sensitive to climate variability. Water stress, floods, environmental degradation, and outdated irrigation practices are increasing competition over resources, undermining long-term agricultural sustainability and national food security.
Water serves as both a vital resource and an essential service provider. However, climate variability and unsustainable water resource developments have created extreme conditions on both ends. Water scarcity poses critical challenges to communities and ecosystems, while water excess leads to devastating consequences through flooding and other destructive events.
Despite water’s critical role in climate resilience, it remains an often-overlooked component of agri-food systems adaptation. It is crucial to adopt coordinated strategies and public policies that balance economic growth, environmental conservation, and climate adaptation, at multiple levels and across multiple sectors to ensure the country’s socio-economic resilience in the face of increasing climate risks. The Water Resilience Tracker aims to do just that. It is a diagnostic tool that helps decision-makers improve how water is accounted for, managed, and integrated into agricultural systems at all levels, from local producers to global supply chains.
This roundtable discussion will bring together experts and professionals to shine a spotlight on how better governance and decision-making can unlock water’s potential as a driver of sustainable agri-food systems, from field to fork. The session will emphasize the need for cross-sectoral strategies, public policies and private sector collaboration that align economic growth with environmental protection and climate adaptation, while valuing local knowledge and inclusive processes. The event will also support shared learning of water stewardship approaches and adaptive water management. Through dialogue and demonstration, the event aims to elevate water as a central pillar in Brazil’s and the world’s climate response.
Expected outcomes:
Participants will gain understanding of water’s role in sustainable agri-food systems and hands-on exposure to a scalable tool for tracking and enhancing water resilience.
Relationships between the water, food and climate communities will be forged through a collective action and stewardship approach.
Productive sectors will explore pathways to strengthen supply chain resilience through water resilience.