“The water footprint” within the cattle industry

It is often cited that it takes 15,000 liters of water to produce 1 kg of beef. However, this figure is often taken out of context and can be misleading. More than 90% of the water consumed by livestock is “green water” (rainwater), so scientists estimate that 1 kg of beef requires approximately 50 liters of freshwater.

The term “water footprint” is in vogue…

In 2002, this figure was first published when the concept of the “water footprint” was established in response to the growing popularity of ecological footprint indicators. While working at the UNESCO-IHE Institute (Institute for Water Education), Arjen Hoekstra designed the water footprint as a way to measure the amount of water consumed and polluted in the production of goods and services throughout the supply chain. Interest in the concept quickly grew after it began to appear in academic literature. Today, the Water Footprint Network works to standardize and promote the concept of the “water footprint.”

The water footprint serves as an indicator of freshwater use, calculating both direct and indirect water use by consumers or producers. It is expressed in three types of footprints:

• Blue water footprint (related to the consumption of surface or groundwater by animals and irrigation).
• Grey water footprint (related to the water used to clean effluents and recycle them).
• Green water footprint (rainwater).

“Green water” accounts for 93% of the water footprint associated with livestock production.

It’s essential to consider the structure of the water footprint. When we look at the average water consumption for livestock-related activities, more than 90% is green water (rainwater) absorbed by the soil and evaporated by plants, returning to the hydrological cycle with or without livestock.

Applying the same approach, we could calculate that pork requires 450 liters, chicken 300 liters, eggs 244 liters, and milk 86 liters per kg, as shown in the table:

According to conclusions from the academic publication “Animal Frontiers,” “Water is a valuable resource that all sectors of the economy, including agriculture and livestock, must conserve. We have tools such as the water footprint and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), but we need to redefine their interpretation by policymakers.” This highlights the need for water conservation while refining data to measure true consumption.