Hosted by the World Food Center at the University of California, Davis and the International Food Policy Research Institute, the conference will address key issues on the global level down to the individual basin scale. It will analyze the extreme case of California, now in its fourth year of drought, as well as the challenges globally of sustainable management of ground and surface water resources and declining water quality.

The World Food Center will address the growing demands on water systems for agriculture. A panel of international experts and thought leaders will bring new solutions to the table. Their goal is to strike a balance between the global need for more food and the steep urban, industrial and environmental pressures on water supplies—all under the added threats of climate change and soaring energy prices.

The conference will take place at the UC Davis Conference Center, with talks from policy makers, researchers, development investors and industry leaders from around the world. The ultimate goal will be a series of policy briefs that set the priorities for action in securing water for food security.

A limited number of grants will be provided for participants from developing countries. Poster submissions will be solicited.