Dwindling water resources in Africa could lead to conflicts and food shortages, experts attending an international conference in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, said this week. Unsustainable use of water, poor management, pollution, increasing consumption and rapid population growth were fuelling water shortages, according to the experts attending the "Water for Food and Ecosystems" conference. Delegates warned that much more water would be needed to feed the world’s growing population - projected to rise from about six billion at present to 8.9 billion by 2050.