Abstract:

Finding fresh water in the regions of North Africa and the Middle East has recently fallen by two-thirds over the past 40 years, prompting “an urgent and massive response” by the United Nations agriculture agency.

A fundamental need for food, human health, and agriculture, fresh water is now 10 times less than the world average in that area. According to the UN, the need for a significant overhaul of its farming systems is more urgent than ever.

Studies have shown that higher temperatures may shorten growing seasons in the region by 18 days and reduce agricultural yields a further 27-55% by the end of this century. The rising sea level in the Nile Delta is exposing Egypt to the danger of losing substantial parts of the most productive agriculture land due to salinization.