The acceptance meeting for the “Research on Development of Agriculture with High Water Use Efficiency”, a strategic research and consulting project of the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE), was held in Alaer, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on May 11, 2024. The acceptance group consisted of 10 CAE members and experts.

Based on field surveys, the project team focused on research and analysis into the spatiotemporal evolution of agricultural water consumption in China, ways to establish the bottom line of water resources for China's agriculture, the status quo and existing problems of water management in irrigation areas, and pathways to achieve high water use efficiency in key agricultural regions. The project formed one research report, one policy proposal, and one database. The research results are of great significance for alleviating the contradiction between water scarcity and the stable, high yield of agricultural products in China.