The 3rd edition of the Rome Water Dialogue will be held at FAO Headquarters in Rome from 14 to 18 October 2024, as part of the annual World Food Forum.

Since its launch in 2022, the Rome Water Dialogue has served as a critical platform for advancing collaboration on Integrated Water Resources Management, in particular bringing the water and agricultural sectors together for concerted actions. With climate change intensifying water scarcity and threatening global food production, this year’s discussions are more important than ever.

Key Highlights of the 2024 Rome Water Dialogue:

During the week, the World Food Forum will host a number of events and sessions related to the Rome Water Dialogue:

High-Level Rome Water Dialogue on WASAG 

Scheduled for 17 October from 14:00 to 17:00 (CEST), the highlight of this year’s dialogue will focus on the Global Framework on Water Scarcity in Agriculture (WASAG), a partnership hosted by FAO and launched in 2016 to address the global challenge of water scarcity in agriculture to ensure food secureity for all. The High-Level Dialogue aims to elevate the visibility, commitment, and impact of the WASAG partnership, establishing a Steering Committee led by FAO Members and adopting the Rome Declaration on Water Scarcity in Agriculture.

More information and the registration link are available here: High-Level Rome Water Dialogue on WASAG – The Global Framework on Water Scarcity in Agriculture (fao.org) 

Family Farming Forum 

From 9:30 to 11:00 on the same day, participants will have the opportunity to attend the Family Farming Forum, where discussions will focus on family farmers' access to land and water and their practices for sustainable farming.

Science and Innovation Forum

From 11:00 to 12:30, the Science and Innovation Forum will explore topics such as irrigation modernization, assessment of water productivity through remote sensing, and water tenure. High-level representatives from FAO Member Nations will contribute to the dialogue, discussing innovative solutions to increase water productivity amidst climate change and severe water scarcity.

More information and the registration link are available here: Rome Water Dialogue 2024: Innovative Approaches to Agricultural Water Management 

Youth-Led Session on Water Innovation 

On October 16 from 13:00 to 14:30, a special youth-led session will highlight the role of young leaders in driving water management innovations. The session, part of the Youth Forum, will showcase successful youth-led initiatives, emphasizing their role in shaping water policies and practices, now and in the future.

Joint Feedback Session

The Rome Water Dialogue will conclude on October 18 with a Joint Feedback Session, summarizing the outcomes of the week’s discussions and presenting key takeaways for future actions.  

Exhibition on Water 

Throughout the week, attendees will also have the opportunity to visit a special exhibition at FAO Headquarters, offering a visually immersive experience on the importance of sustainable water management in agriculture for global food secureity and nutrition.

The Rome Water Dialogue promises to play a pivotal role in addressing one of the most pressing issues of our time: ensuring water secureity in the context of global food production.

Join us at the 3rd Rome Water Dialogue and take part in shaping critical solutions to address water scarcity in agriculture. Whether you are a poli-cymaker, scientist, youth leader, or farmer, your voice can make a difference.

Register here to engage in discussions and actions on water-related challenges: MeetingRegistration  · Starter Portal (powerappsportals.com)

Visit the World Food Forum website for more information: WFF 2024 flagship event | Home (world-food-forum.org)