Today, Monday 16^th October, marks World Food Day 2023. The day stresses the significance around global food security for the present and the future. It can link to the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, namely the 2^nd goal for “Zero Hunger”. This year’s World Food Day is dedicated to “Water is life, water is food. Leave no one behind.”

Importance of water

World Food Day emphasises that water is vital for food, whether that be for animal habitats, food production, food maintenance, to name a few. Oceans and seas play a pivotal role for food. They host the home for aquatic life, which makes up around 15% of animal protein that humans consume.

When it comes to using water safe for drinking, farming and industrial work, 2.5% of the Earth’s water is fresh. This is used for various activities such as maintenance of crops and livestock, food preservation and ingredients, and of course, drinking. However, this year’s World Food Day emphasises that water security is becoming worse. The FAO put this down to “poor use and management [of water], over extraction of groundwater, pollution and climate change.” Caused by environmental factors such as climate change, flooding can play a key role in reducing freshwater and increasing water waste.

Flooding reducing freshwater

Significant flooding of farmland has a high chance of ruining crops. This has a direct impact on food if crops go to waste, whilst also possibly contaminating the farm’s freshwater, having further potential implications. Floodwater may also contaminate freshwater through surface runoff. Pollutants from urban areas, but also pollutants from farmland such as fertilisers, could flow into the freshwater rivers. These can harm aquatic ecosystems as well as reducing available drinking water for humans. Floodwater containing sediment further decreases water quality whilst also affecting ecosystems.

World Food Day 2023 raises a necessary concern around water as food. Our food is dependent on water, such as providing animals with habitats and the various uses for fresh water. However, as noted, freshwater is in decline, with various reasons for this. The one picked out in this blog is flooding’s impact on freshwater. Whilst we look to conserve freshwater more effectively, it is significant to understand the negative impacts flooding can have. Unda can provide you with advice for flood risk and drainage for your site, through a flood risk assessment and drainage assessment. For more information or a free quote for your site, please get in touch today.