 Humans have been dependent on rivers for centuries. From the spiritual and cultural to the very practical, these natural systems have supported our well-being in many ways. One of these uses is through flood recession farming. Each year the river rises and falls, flooding the land with rich nutrients and leaving behind a fertilised soil ready for farming. A variety of crops can be planted on the flooded river banks. This reliable source of food production provides household security for millions of river-dependent people. By taking advantage of the environmental benefits, this sustainable type of farming serves as a natural vegetable garden by the river. This is especially important in tropical areas with extremely dry climates and where rainfall is unpredictable, such as the Omo Valley in Ethiopia. When large dams are built to provide renewable energy, that natural cycle of annual flooding is interrupted and people downstream can no longer practice flood recession farming, leaving them vulnerable when it comes to food security. Although dams have been playing an important role in contributing to national economies, too often the impact of dams on local communities has not been taken into account. What if the resources that go into building them could help stop hunger instead of creating it? We urgently need to make an honest assessment of the social and environmental costs of dam development. Go to our website to find out how we can get there.