How can we put agriculture back at the heart of water policy and secure the resources needed for its transition in the face of climate change?
This is the aim of the Marseille Call, presented at the opening ceremony of the 26th World Congress of the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (CIID/ICID) on 12 October 2026, before an audience of nearly 1,000 participants. This non-binding political declaration proposes a voluntary framework for international cooperation, respectful of national priorities and contexts.
Drafted on the initiative of the CIID and championed by Eau, Agriculture et Territoires (EAT), the Marseille Call is the result of a broad consultation involving policy-makers, scientists and industry professionals, with direct contributions from 18 countries.
It upholds a core conviction: agriculture must no longer be viewed solely as a consumer of water, but as a strategic partner in its sustainable management, food security and climate resilience.
Five priorities for aligning water and agricultural policies
The Marseille Call calls for moving beyond this sectoral approach through five complementary priorities that propose an integrated approach to the water-agriculture transition, in which sustainable water management, food production, resource conservation and social equity are inextricably linked.
1. Align agricultural systems with the realities of water, soil and climate. This involves adapting crops, farming practices and irrigation systems to available resources, in particular by promoting agroecology, diversification and the preservation of living soils, which are essential for water retention and agricultural productivity.
2. Ensuring that the agricultural sector manages water and land resources responsibly. Beyond food production, farmers contribute to the conservation of soils, catchment areas, groundwater and ecosystems. These functions must be better recognized and supported.
3. Plan and manage resilient and diversified agricultural water systems. This priority calls for better coordination between public policies, transparent and participatory governance, and the anticipation of hydro-climatic changes. It also recognizes the reuse of treated wastewater (REUSE) as a strategic resource, subject to appropriate risk and use management.
4. Mobilizing finance for sustainable agricultural water management. The aim is to better coordinate public, private, international and climate finance to support long-term investments, without placing an unsustainable burden on farmers.
5. Empower stakeholders through knowledge, data and innovation. Research, digital tools, remote sensing, training and the sharing of experiences must help to inform decisions and support change on the ground, whilst fully involving farmers, women and young people.
From funding to access to resources: turning the Marseille Call into concrete action
Financing is one of the main challenges. The investment required to adapt agricultural systems often exceeds the financial capacity of individual farms. Modernising infrastructure, improving irrigation services and adopting agroecological practices require mechanisms that bring together public and private funding, development banks and stakeholders in the agricultural sector.
The discussions highlighted, in particular, the role of public agricultural banks, which account for a major share of formal financing for agriculture, as well as the need to mobilise climate finance more effectively. The challenge lies not only in financing new infrastructure, but also in its long-term maintenance, operation and adaptation.
Investing in agricultural water must therefore be viewed as a strategic investment in food security and regional resilience. This approach requires a more thorough assessment not only of the economic, social and environmental benefits of projects, but also of the cost of inaction in the face of climate change.
The issue of equity also featured prominently in the discussions. Water financing and pricing mechanisms must take into account farmers’ ability to pay – particularly that of smallholders – and ensure fairer access to resources and services.
All these topics were addressed at ICID 2026, with a range of perspectives shared by researchers, technical experts, entrepreneurs and farmers alike.
The testimony of Korka Diaw from Senegal brought these issues to life. A farmer and food processor specialising in rice and vegetable production, she emphasised just how crucial water management is for farms facing both water shortages and excesses.
As head of a 250-hectare farm employing 150 people, she also leads a network of 20,000 women and 3,000 young people, whom she educates, in particular, on sustainable agricultural practices.
Her speech highlighted the persistent barriers faced by women farmers, particularly in terms of access to land, productive resources and investment. She emphasised the importance of strengthening their economic autonomy and their involvement in decisions concerning the future of agricultural systems.
A scientific annex to link policy commitments to scientific knowledge
One of the distinctive features of the Marseille Appeal is its scientific annex, drawn up by EAT’s member research organisations – INRAE, Aix-Marseille University, CIRAD and IRD – which identifies the key research questions and the knowledge required to support the implementation of these five priorities.
How can irrigated systems be adapted to climate constraints whilst maintaining their productivity? How can we better assess available resources at the catchment level? What tools can be used to measure the impact of investments and guide public policy? How can farmers and local stakeholders be involved in designing solutions?
Research is therefore called upon to play a central role, not only in generating knowledge, but also in translating it into decision-making tools, recommendations and solutions that can be adopted by stakeholders.
This focus is directly in line with the approach of the COSTEA think tank, which combines research, practical expertise, capacity-building and dialogue with public decision-makers. Its work on the agroecological re-engineering of irrigated systems, REUSE, water governance and tools for measuring greenhouse gas emissions helps to document the necessary transformations and the conditions for their implementation.
This convergence of objectives with the ICID has led to the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between COSTEA and the ICID, focusing primarily on enhanced cooperation to strengthen their respective international presence and to collaborate through the dissemination of knowledge and expertise in the fields of water for agricultural use and irrigated agriculture.
The Marseille Call represents a step towards building a stronger international dialogue between the water, agriculture and food sectors, with a view to informing future political and technical discussions, notably at the United Nations Water Conference, to be held in Abu Dhabi in December 2026, and subsequently at the 11th World Water Forum in 2027.