Water use linked to food consumption per person

Definition

Freshwater withdrawals needed to produce food under current food consumption patterns. Includes irrigation water (for crops and livestock feed), animal drinking water, and water used during food processing. Withdrawals are weighted by local water scarcity. Food consumption is estimated using FAO Food Balance Sheets data as a proxy.

Relevance

Countries experiencing high water stress associated with dietary choices may have larger potential for dietary shifts to improve water-use efficiency.

Additional Information

Poore, J., & Nemecek, T. (2018). Reducing food’s environmental impacts through producers and consumers. Science, 360(6392), 987-992.