Sharing Water: What Future for Mediterranean Agriculture?
Innovation, Governance and Cooperation in the Face of Climate Change
19 November 2026, 11:30
COP31, Mediterranean Pavilion
Context and Rationale
In the Mediterranean, climate change is intensifying pressure on water resources and threatening agricultural and food systems. Faced with more frequent droughts, competing water uses and growing demand, adaptation cannot rely solely on developing new water resources. It also requires rethinking demand management, agricultural practices, investments and water governance. Building on the discussions held at the Arab Water Forum (Jeddah, June 2026) and the Euro-Mediterranean Water Forum, this session will explore solutions to strengthen the water resilience of Mediterranean agriculture and territories. Particular attention will be paid to the interplay between technological innovation, territorial approaches and regional cooperation, within an integrated Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystems (WEFE) nexus framework.
Guiding Questions
- Water, Agriculture and Climate Change: How can agricultural practices be adapted and competing water uses reconciled in the face of increasing water scarcity, while safeguarding food security, ecosystems and territorial equity?
- Innovation and Territorial Solutions: What role can desalination, treated wastewater reuse, precision irrigation and nature-based solutions play? How can these approaches be combined while taking into account their costs, environmental impacts and local realities?
- Governance, Cooperation and Financing: What mechanisms and partnerships could help finance, pilot and scale up adaptation solutions tailored to Mediterranean territories?