Research and innovation in agricultural water management for a water‐secure world

Abstract There is increased awareness that the current food system unsustainable and transformative research, development innovation in agricultural water management (AWM) are needed to transform systems under climate change. We provide an overview of research efforts, challenges, opportunities innovations improve resource sustainability, especially sector. highlight how sustainable AWM central balancing needs a growing population increasing demand insecurity scarcity, with environmental socio‐economic outcomes. Innovative technologies being developed optimize use productivity through irrigation technologies, modernization smart management. However, these still need fully address equity, inequality social justice concerning access water, infrastructure delayed technological advances global South. This requires adopting transdisciplinary approaches, as espoused by water–energy–food (WEF) nexus, better anticipate balance trade‐offs, synergies mitigate risks maladaptation. Through such could consider local socio‐economic, governance, institutional constraints, thus allowing for more contextualized relevant can be scaled.