Expanding irrigation can support food production, but deciding where to invest requires more than finding land near water. At an October dialogue in Rome, FAO introduced a digital platform to guide those choices. Called IRMA, it combines information on existing irrigation, physical suitability, development needs and expected benefits. Agricultural areas can then be compared and prioritized within a common framework. The aim is to replace fragmented assessments with planning that considers both practical opportunity and potential environmental or financial risk.
FAO also stressed that efficiency must be accompanied by fair access. Small producers and vulnerable communities can lose out if water allocation ignores their needs. Its wider approach includes reducing waste, reusing water, recycling resources and replenishing supplies. Early warning systems and healthier forests, rivers and soils are also important for managing droughts and floods. The platform is therefore a decision-support tool, not a substitute for governance. Reliable data needs to inform choices that balance agriculture with communities, industry and ecosystems.