Tackling agricultural water pollution – a 21st-century challenge

Agriculture is critical to the economies of developing countries. It is the basic source of food supply and a major contributor to economic development. But there is a cost. Today, agricultural water pollution undermines economic growth and threatens the environmental and physical health of millions of people around the world. The annual social and economic costs of agricultural water pollution could reach trillions of dollars. Yet the issue receives scant attention in global research and debate.

Agriculture is the main source of food, income and employment for rural populations and plays a key role in supporting food and nutrition security, economic development and health. Unfortunately, it is also the leading cause of water pollution in many countries, outstripping city living and industry. Rapid population growth, combined with changing diets, has indeed contributed to unsustainable agricultural intensification…