This week marks the launch of the new CGIAR research portfolio. Izabella Koziell, Program Director, lays out the ambitions of the CGIAR Research Program on Water, Land and Ecosystems (WLE).
We face a familiar challenge
Global food demand is growing and is projected to, by 2050, increase by at least 60% above 2006 levels. In response to this demand, new technologies and increased inputs have contributed to farm system intensification, leading to significant yield gains and advances in food security. However, growing evidence shows that intensification is at the expense of multiple other social and environmental concerns.
Today, agriculture is a major contributor to the ongoing degradation of the environment. More than 70% of global freshwater is used for food production, and unsustainable use of fertilizer and pesticides contributes to water pollution. A fourth of the world‘s land area is or is on its way to being highly degraded. Despite this, one in nine people still go hungry.
If we do not act quickly in reversing these trends, environmental degradation is likely to reach tipping points after which the water, land and other ecosystem services necessary to meet future food demands will be irreversibly lost.
Read the full post on the WLE Blog.
Population pressure and increasing water competition in a changing climate require us to take stock of the availability and use of water across scales. Water availability not only influences farmers’ commercial prospects but also irrigation-related enterprises and agri-businesses. Greater water scarcity could jeopardize irrigation and agricultural markets while excessive water use can lead to declining ecosystems, water quality and soil health. IWMI advises development partners and the public and private sectors on all aspects of water resource availability and use through a variety of advanced modeling and remote-sensing products and tools, including 
The ability of farmers to engage in or expand irrigation depends on the prevailing socioeconomic, ecological and political contexts, which are often complex, non-linear and changeable. Overcoming systemic barriers to farmer-led irrigation development while taking advantage of existing opportunities 
A lack of affordable credit, particularly for women and resource-poor farmers, is one of the main barriers to expanding farmer-led irrigation in low- and middle-income countries. But 
Scaling farmer-led irrigation requires strengthening human capacity and knowledge exchange among all actors and stakeholders involved. IWMI takes an action research approach, working with national and international research institutions, governments, extension agents and public and private organizations to co-develop the scaling ecosystem and strengthen capacity to drive scaling networks and collective action. We support the