Water, of which 70pc is used in agriculture, will be the next great topic of global debate, said speakers at the World Food Prize Borlaug Dialogue last week.
"We have realised the food-fuel debate but it is really going to be food, fuel and water," said Robert Zoellick, president of The World Bank.
Several other speakers suggested future wars will be fought over water rather than oil.
"There are alternatives to oil but there are no alternatives to water," said Carl Hausmann, president and CEO of Bunge North America.
There was disagreement as to whether water or energy is the more important resource.
The point was poised that if the world has sustainable and efficient energy production, it then has the ability to generate and convey water.
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