SASUF Sustainability Forum 2024

Misuse of water resources within the agricultural sector is of growing concern in both Sweden and
South Africa. Overextraction of groundwater or inappropriate use of wetland resources for
irrigation and livestock farming cause degradations of the local habitats with sometimes
irreversible damage to flora, fauna and soil structure. The long term result of which is declining
freshwater reserves and reduced food productivity.
This workshop will address the importance of water management in agriculture for promoting
long-term food security and self-sufficiency in rural parts of Sweden and South Africa. During the
session, we will discuss the impact of water management and irrigation on the local ecosystems
and environment through the lens of case-studies from both countries. Strategies for increasing
food security and self-sufficiency in the rural parts of Sweden and South Africa will also be
addressed.
The workshop aims to connect stakeholders from a broad arena including farmers, advisors,
researchers, policy makers, and students, with a joint interest for promoting sustainable water management and food security in rural communities.

We will start the session with two or three short presentations to introduce the audience to the
topic of water management, agriculture, and land degradation. The moderators of the workshop
will then invite to a group discussion on the topic presented. After a short break, we will have two
more presenters introduce strategies to promote sustainable water use in agriculture, followed by
a group discussion. The moderators will then summarize and conclude this workshop.

Keywords: Sustainable soil and water management, agriculture, food security, self sufficiency