A renewed focus on water is being taken at the World Water Day on March 21, with the leading plant science industry association Crop Life International calling for a holistic approach to address water scarcity. "World Water Day is a reminder that global efforts to better manage our water resources must continue", says Howard Minigh, CEO and President of CropLife International. Four key principles to address the global shortage of water were highlighted in a press release to assure the growing population that there is sufficient quality water for consumption. They are:

• Optimization of agricultural productivity achieved through effective dissemination of agronomic knowledge, farmer access to inputs such as good quality seed and crop protection to reduce pre- and post-harvest losses to pests and diseases.
• Increase water efficiency in agriculture through the use of plant science technologies in the development of herbicide tolerant crops that will conserve tillage, increase the moisture retention in soil and reduce erosion; and the development of drought tolerant and water efficient crops.
• Invest in research to mitigate and adapt to water scarcity including desalinization technologies and biotechnologies for use in waste water treatment and remediation of contaminated soils.
• Disseminate knowledge and technologies encompassing collaborations across sectors and across the agricultural commodity chain help ensure that helpful technologies and knowledge reach those who need them most.

For details of the press release, see http://www.croplife.org/files/documentspublished/1/en-us/NR/5367_NR_2010_03_22_CropLife_International_Calls_for_Holistic_Approach_to_Address_Water_Scarcity.doc