This report contains a list of key messages that together can effectively improve the conditions for food productions and poverty alleviation. There is a large potential to improve water productivity through improved and known water and land management practices, says co-author Jennie Barron. Water productivity is a measure of the amount of water needed to generate an amount of produce. Water stress is increasing in a number of countries, and regions are moving into water stressed conditions that render livelihood support from crops, livestock and ecosystems critically difficult.