Water is pivotal not only for crop production, but also for economic development and ecosystem sustainability. Shrinking water resources and declining water availability and quality for crop production are some of the greatest challenges in both China and United States. In China, fast industrial development, unprecedented urbanization and change of lifestyle are diverting more water to non-agricultural uses, while over-pumping of ground water, untreated discharges of industrial and domestic wastes, over-applications of agro-chemicals, and soil and water erosion have resulted in drastic degradation of water quantity and quality. In the US, endured drought experienced in many regions in recent decades and increasing societal demand for water for natural and wildlife conservation, recreation, urban landscaping, and other non-agricultural uses have led to restrictions over water use for irrigation in some regions, as well as state-to-state lawsuits over water rights and allocations. Tackling those issues requires not only state-of-the-art scientific solutions, but also delicate and balanced considerations on social, political, economic, and even cultural perspectives. This symposium provides a forum for scientists from China, US and other parts of the world to exchange experiences, discuss ideas, and debate solutions around the issue of how to sustain crop production with shrinking water resources.