Food and Water Security

Many experts are predicting that future wars are going to be fought over water. Big cities in the world are already facing a water crisis. While India might be abundant right now in food production, there is a lot that needs to be done when it comes to making the availability of clean water to the masses.

Cape Town Water Crisis

For this case study, you will need to access and read the report on ‘Day Zero: Lessons from Cape Town’s crisis’ and discuss the questions and issues that follow. You will need an internet connection to access the report online at thebulletin.org/day-zero-lessons-cape-townscrisis11519. You may want to supplement this with more recent reports of the water situation in Cape Town.

Questions for discussion

1. In relation to frameworks linking ecosystem services and wellbeing:
a. Look for mention of the components of the different frameworks for analysing the relationship between ecosystem services and wellbeing.
b. Based on your reading, which one of the frameworks would you recommend for use in the evaluation of the crisis in this case study and why?

2. In relation to ecosystem governance:

a. Who are the stakeholders? Who has decision-making power?
b. What are the governance challenges in this case?
c. What solutions could you come up with?

Further reading

Drollette JR, D. (2018) Day Zero: Lessons from Cape Town’s crisis | Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. URL: thebulletin.org/day-zero-lessons-cape-townscrisis11519

Water Crisis in India

India might be self-sufficient in a number of food crops and there seem to be enough food to meet demand. But its rivers are dying and water pollution is a big concern. India’s population is also growing and it in a few years, it will most likely overtake China’s population. So, the growth in crop production and availability of water will also need to keep pace with the growth in population, and there are several challenges that India faces in this area.

Further Reading

Water Crisis in India – A case study

Water In Crisis – Spotlight India.

India is already facing a water crisis-and it is only going to get worse.

India Environment Portal Knowledge for change.

Academic Resources

References

“Food and Water Security: Our Global Challenge Landmark Study” by Paul Belesky.

Academic Questions on Food and Water Security

Q. Based on the paper “Food and Water Security: Our Global Challenge Landmark Study”. and your voncept of food and water security please answer the following questions:

1. How does population growth and population distribution affect the food and water security scenarios in developed and developing countries?

2. Discuss how water and land availability will shape the distributions of the food systems in the future? How can you better manage the different aspects of land and water availability that you just discussed to solve the global food crisis.