Anticipating Water and Agriculture Risks in a Changing Climate

The French Research Institute for Sustainable Development (IRD) and the French agricultural research and cooperation organization (CIRAD) partners of the One Water Vision (OWV) initiative, recently participated, alongside IRTA, LabFerrer, UCAM, The Ebre Observatory, UCAR, AGRHYMET, FOOD QUALITY and CEPAVE, to the ACCWA project (Accounting for Climate Change in Water and Agriculture management), coordinated by ISARDSAT and completed six months ago. Funded by the European Union, ACCWA focused on developing remote sensing–based monitoring tools to guide water and agricultural management in the face of climate change.

The Mediterranean and Sahel regions are among the most vulnerable areas: rising temperatures, increased rainfall variability, higher evapotranspiration, and shrinking water resources. These pressures threaten agricultural yields, heighten the risks of droughts, floods, and pests, and intensify competition over access to water.

ACCWA addressed these challenges by delivering reliable, spatially explicit data on soil moisture, crop water requirements, and potential yields, at scales ranging from farm plots to irrigation districts. These tools provide valuable support for agricultural planning, food security, and sustainable water management.

By combining satellite observations with local practices, ACCWA perfectly illustrates the mission of the One Water Vision initiative: leveraging science and Earth observation to strengthen adaptive water governance and build resilience to climate challenges.

More information on the project.
Website of the project.
Link to the IRD.