A new global TV series, released recently for free worldwide distribution, looks at how researchers, farmers and local communities in different parts of the world are trying to grow more food with less water.

Produced by TVE Asia Pacific (TVEAP), the Living Labs series showcases efforts currently underway in Africa, Asia and Latin America to meet one of the biggest challenges in international development. Released in time for World Water Day last March 22, the series' theme this year is 'Coping with Water Scarcity'.

Between 70 and 90 percent of all freshwater drawn in the developing world is used for growing crops. But this has to change fast" with water scarcity emerging as a global concern, agriculture cannot afford to remain so hooked on water. This calls for smarter, thriftier  methods of increasing water's productivity in agriculture. And it must be achieved without damaging the environment, or threatening people's food security, health and jobs.

Living Labs looks at profiles of major global efforts finding solutions through action research: the CGIAR Challenge Programme on Water and Food (CPWF). The series was filmed in 2006 in partnership with CGIAR-CPWF. As the research initiative started synthesising its findings after three years of field work, TVEAP visited eight CPWF benchmark river basins to find out what has been accomplished -- and what remains.

The Living Labs series comprises a global documentary that provides an overview of the problem and solutions presented under five thematic areas, and several short videos containing stories from different river basins, considered 'living labs' where the Challenge Programme's research happens.

The series was filmed in nine countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Europe. Filmed on DV Cam (PAL) and produced to international broadcast standards, the series comes with an English narration. Non-English interviews have been sub-titled.

Supervised by TVEAP's location filming director, all filming was done by local and international camera crews in each country. The series was edited in Melbourne, Australia.

“This was one of the most ambitious and challenging video productions we have undertaken,” says Nalaka Gunawardene, TVEAP’s director and CEO, who wrote and executive produced the series. “We immediately recognised the scientific, survival and development value of these stories. But we wanted to tell these stories in a way that everyone can understand and relate to.”

The Living Labs series was premiered at the International Forum on Water and Food, held in Vientiane, Laos, on Nov 12 - 17,  2006, hosted by the Mekong River Commission (MRC). It brought together 300 top researchers and policy makers from all over the world.

The series is available to broadcast, educational and civil society users everywhere without license fee or copyright restrictions. For broadcast interest, please contact: sales@tveap.org. Video and DVD copies may be ordered directly, at cost-recovery (duplication & dispatch) prices from TVEAP’s online e-shop at: http://www.tveap.org/shopping/search.php. The shorter films in this series can now be viewed on TVEAP's channel on You Tube at: http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=tveapfilms.