Earlier this month, it was the UN’s World Water day. In a statement on 22 March, the Secretary-General António Guterres said: “The value of water is profound and complex. There is no aspect of sustainable development that does not fundamentally rely upon it.” This quote resonates with our featured article by Jeremy Stroud, who explores some of the emerging water challenges affecting the global agri-food sector, placing a spotlight on regions and technologies that could mitigate these issues most effectively. As Jeremy notes: “Society’s capacity to develop beyond a primitive state is at least partially caused by advancements in water management and technology.” He makes the point that freshwater depletion is an agricultural issue just as much as it is an environmental one. “Farmers, processors, and other stakeholders throughout the value chain have a distinct opportunity to invest towards efficient irrigation and try new technologies in regions that have the replenishing capacity to withdraw water resources sustainably.” Another aspect of sustainability is on the input side. Holly Meadows-Smith and Damian Curtis give an overview of biologics, introducing the potential of CRISPR, conveying that biologicals have great potential to improve crop survival, growth, and yield while limiting negative impacts on the environment. Much gratitude is also extended to our sponsors of this e-book. These companies highlight their different technologies, products and projects employed in the pursuit of more sustainable agricultural practices. We hear from each of them Idai Nature, Tradecorp, and Van Iperen. From the team here at New AG International, we hope you enjoy this e-book. We will be following up on many of the themes presented here at our Sustainability Digital Week in May. Sign-up is free. Go to our WEBSITE to register.
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Luke Hutson Editor-in-Chief
