Water Governance and Evaluation of its Impacts on Water and Food Security

Food and water security are one of the most critical subjects in all countries. Water deficiency is turning to a national crisis in Iran, due to climate change and non-optimal management of water resources. Due to the increase in water tensions, the national production will encounter major challenges which will lead to more dependency on importing foodstuff. It is notable that in the future, water deficiency will not be due to water shortage, but could be the consequence of the weakness in the regulations, inappropriate policies, and unplanned use of water resources. Accordingly, water governance in Iran has become a crucial concern in the context of increasing water deficiency, local and border water conflict, and global climate changes. Drying of water basins and the decline of groundwater is the result of the aforementioned regulations. Altogether, in the current situation of Iran, in order to guarantee the production of sustainable food products, considering the worsening state of water shortage, it is necessary to notice good governance, along with the empowerment of indigenous communities and the revival of their knowledge in areas related to the conservation and optimal utilisation of water resources. In this study, while addressing different dimensions of water governance and its role in water and food security, the innovative water governance methods have been described in the field of water security compared to conventional methods of integrated water resources management.