United Nations News Centre - New open-access database aims to get water-scarce countries ‘more crop per drop’ – UN agency

"At the start of the World Water Week conference in Stockholm, Sweden, the United Nations agriculture agency today announced that it would develop a new open-access data portal that uses satellite imagery to provide insights into more efficient and productive use of agricultural waters – helping water-scarce countries in the Near East and North Africa better manage the resource. 'Reporting on water productivity is lacking at country level in water scarce regions and this data will be key to creating sustainable agricultural systems in areas with scarce resources,' said Jippe Hoogeveen, project coordinator and technical officer in the Land and Water Division of the UN Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO). According to an FAO press release, currently all countries in North Africa and the Near East suffer from severe water scarcity, with significant consequences for irrigated agriculture, the region’s largest water user – which is expected to intensify as climate change leads to more frequent and longer droughts, severely impacting food production. The aim of the new data portal – to be developed in October – is to collect and analyze satellite information to improve land and water productivity and boost the sustainability of agricultural systems. All information will be openly available for countries and users who need it ..."