, Aug. 4 -- Water systems are under stress across the region, and that puts sustainable farming, better nutrition, and everyone's health at risk.

Asia and the Pacific's food story has always been a water story.

From the Indus to the Mekong, the Yellow River to the Ganges, rivers have shaped civilizations, nourished crops, and powered trade. That relationship is under strain. The region is home to over half the world's people but holds far less than its share of freshwater. Demand is rising, even as rivers, aquifers, and ecosystems face mounting stress.

Food security begins long before food reaches the table. The region feeds more than 4 billion people using just 28% of global freshwater and 30% of arable land. Yet, more than three-quar...