Page 10 - AWA Vol.41-No.3

HORTICULTURE

Water Scarcity and Food Security in the GCC:

Challenges and Opportunities

Bedanga Bordoloi and Etali Sarmah
he Gulf Cooperation Council
T(GCC) countries, including Saudi
Arabia, UAE, and Kuwait, have histori-
cally faced extreme water scarcity, rely-
ing on desalination and non-renewable
fossil aquifers for their water needs.
Ranked among the most water-stressed
regions globally, these nations have had
to rethink their agricultural and food countries are exploring multiple strate-
security strategies to balance self-suffi- gies:
ciency and sustainability. • Investing in Overseas Farmland:
Agriculture remains the largest con- Countries like Saudi Arabia and the
sumer of water in the GCC, prompting UAE have acquired agricultural land in
governments to shift policies towards Sudan, Ethiopia, and Pakistan to grow
water-efficient food production. Strat- staple crops and fodder. While prom-
egies include crop selection, water ising, these ventures face challenges
tariffs, investment in overseas farm- related to infrastructure, transport cost,
land, and advancements in irrigation inconsistent investments in local value
technologies. However, implementing chains and volatile regulatory, policy
these solutions effectively remains a Vertical Farming and Hydroponics: and political risks.
challenge, requiring a delicate balance A Balanced Perspective • Advanced Irrigation & Desalination:
between economic feasibility and food Technologies such as vertical farming Drip irrigation, treated wastewater re-
security goals. and hydroponics have been proposed use, and seawater desalination continue
The Role of Crop Selection, Live- as solutions for sustainable food pro- to be key technologies in reducing wa-
stock farming and Policy Shifts duction in water-scarce regions. While ter stress while supporting agriculture.
these methods offer significant wa- • Controlled Environment Agriculture
The region has undergone significant ter savings and space efficiency, their
shifts in agricultural policy, particularly large-scale implementation has faced (CEA): Beyond hydroponics, climate-
in Saudi Arabia, where wheat produc- major economic and operational controlled greenhouses, precision ag-
tion—once heavily subsidized—was challenges. riculture, and AI-driven farming are
phased out due to its excessive water being explored to optimize resource
consumption. Despite being the sixth- High energy costs, complex infrastruc- efficiency.
largest wheat exporter in the 1980s, ture, and scalability issues have led to Conclusion: The Road Ahead for Wa-
Saudi Arabia reversed its policy to pre- the failure of many vertical farms, par- ter-Smart Agriculture
serve its finite water resources. How- ticularly in the United States and Eu- As the GCC continues its journey to-
ever, the rise of modern dairy farming rope, where maintaining profitability ward food security, the focus must re-
and fodder crop cultivation—especially has proven difficult. In the GCC, where main on using less water while maximiz-
alfalfa and Rhodes grass—has put even water scarcity is critical, these tech- ing agricultural productivity. Whether
greater pressure on water supplies, as nologies still hold promise if integrated through policy reforms, strategic over-
these perennial crops require irrigation with renewable energy sources, tailored seas investments, or technology-driven
throughout the year. crop selection, and automation to en- solutions, a multi-faceted approach is
hance viability and cost-effectiveness.
To address this, the government has essential. Vertical farming and hydro-
restricted the cultivation of water-inten- The key challenge remains ensuring ponics alone are not silver bullets, but
economic sustainability while maintain-
sive crops and incentivized farmers to ing food production resilience. when combined with desalination, ef-
adopt more sustainable practices. Ad- ficient irrigation, and sustainable crop
ditionally, import bans on animal feed The Future of GCC Food Security: planning, they can contribute to a more
and investment in agriculture abroad Innovations and Investments resilient and self-sufficient food system
have been encouraged as alternative To secure food production without fur- in the region.
solutions. ther depleting water resources, GCC Circle 10 on enquiry card
8 Vol. 41 No. 3