Food and Agriculture Organization launches an irrigation potential mapping initiative at the Rome Water Dialogue

15 October 2026

The Food and Agriculture Organization has launched the Mapping of Irrigation Potential and Needs Initiative, known as IRMA, at the high-level session of the Rome Water Dialogue 2026 on 15 October 2026, held during the World Food Forum. IRMA is a decision-support framework that combines data on existing irrigation, biophysical suitability, sustainable development needs and expected benefits, so that countries can assess, compare and prioritise agricultural areas for irrigation investment. Director-General Qu Dongyu gave the main remarks and said water security is food security. The high-level segment included King Letsie III of Lesotho, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs Li Junhua, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification Yasmine Fouad, and the Secretary-General's Special Envoy on Water Retno L. P. Marsudi, along with ministers and senior officials from Tajikistan, Turkiye, Kazakhstan, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Morocco and China and the Director General of the Asian Development Bank.