Director General (retired), International Water Management Institute (IWMI)
Dr. Seckler served for five years (1995-2000) as Director-General of the International Water Management Institute, headquartered in Sri Lanka. Capitalizing on previous accomplishments of IWMI and others, a series of research publications was produced by IWMI that fundamentally changed the thinking about water resource management in the world. Dr. Seckler will discuss the complex relationships and issues concerning water resources and food production on a global scale—what is referred to as the “global water-food nexus.” He will present data indicating that by 2025 one-third of the world’s population will live in countries afflicted by absolute physical water scarcity. Dr. Seckler’s paper will show why the potential of such solutions as increased water-use efficiency in agriculture is not as great as many people, including some specialists, believe.