A new report by the World Bank warns that inefficient global water use is undermining food security, but also presents a major opportunity to transform economies, create jobs, and feed a growing population by mid-century.

The report, Nourish and Flourish: Water Solutions to Feed 10 Billion People on a Livable Planet, reveals stark disparities in how water is used across countries. While some regions overexploit water resources, others fail to harness their full agricultural potential. These imbalances, the lender says, are limiting global food production capacity.

According to the findings released on Friday, March 20, 2026, current systems can sustain food production for only about 3.4 billion people, less than half of the world’s population. This shortfall comes as global demand is projected to surge, with the planet expected to host nearly 10 billion people by 2050.

Climate change is compounding the challenge. The report highlights how increasingly frequent droughts and floods are disrupting agricultural systems worldwide.

These climate shocks not only destroy crops but also erode livelihoods, drive migration, and place additional pressure on public finances through rising food import bills and expanded social protection programs.

Despite these challenges, the World Bank emphasises that solutions are within reach. Central to its recommendations is the need to rebalance water use across the global food system. By reallocating water resources more efficiently and strategically, countries can significantly boost agricultural productivity while conserving critical ecosystems.

The report says that improving agricultural water management could also unlock massive employment opportunities. It estimates that smarter water use could generate up to 245 million long-term jobs, with a significant share expected in Sub-Saharan Africa, a region poised for agricultural expansion but constrained by water access and infrastructure gaps.

In addition to job creation, targeted investments in irrigation systems and better water allocation practices could help reduce inequality between regions and communities, while strengthening resilience against climate shocks.

“The way we manage water for food will have profound implications for jobs, livelihoods, and economic growth. By making smarter choices about where crops are grown, how water is allocated, and how trade supports food security, we can strengthen resilience, expand opportunity, and safeguard the resources which we all rely on,” the report reads.

The report also calls for a coordinated approach that combines public and private sector efforts. While governments play a key role in building infrastructure and setting policies, the private sector is seen as essential in scaling innovation and mobilising capital.

“When investments in infrastructure and natural resources, business-enabling policies, and private capital mobilisation come together, the impact can be greater than the sum of its parts,” the report notes.

Ultimately, the World Bank argues that rethinking water use is not just an environmental necessity but an economic imperative.

With the right policies and investments, countries can transform water management into a driver of food security, job creation, and sustainable growth, ensuring the world is better prepared to feed its future population.