Have you ever stopped to think about how much water goes into producing the food you eat?
It’s not just about the water you drink or use for cooking. The water footprint of food takes into account all the water used in the production process, from growing crops to packaging and shipping.
And when it comes to meat, the amount of water used can be staggering. In particular, beef has a reputation for being one of the most water-intensive foods out there.
But just how much water goes into producing one pound of beef? Let’s take a closer look and explore some ways we can reduce our water footprint without sacrificing our love for steak.
How Much Water Goes Into One Pound Of Beef?
According to research, it takes approximately 1,847 gallons of water to produce just one pound of beef. That’s enough water to fill 39 bathtubs all the way to the top! But why does beef require so much water?
Well, a beef cow eats thousands of pounds of grass, corn, grains, and soybeans during its lifetime, and water is necessary to grow this diet. Additionally, the production of animal products like meat, dairy, and eggs requires more water than producing fruits and vegetables.
Beef has the largest global water footprint out of all types of meat. In fact, estimates show that it takes 1,675 gallons of water to produce one pound of pork and 257 gallons of water to produce one pound of poultry.
However, not all water has the same importance when it comes to sustainability. There are primarily three types of water used in the livestock production chain: green, blue, and gray water. Green water is rainwater that landed on the field or pasture that required no human intervention to use. Blue water is primarily irrigation water for crops and drinking water for animals. Gray water is water used for cleaning animal facilities, processing plants, etc.
From a water sustainability perspective, blue and gray water are more important than green water because they involve removing water from its natural cycle, and blue and gray water could be used directly by humans. When we compare the water footprint of animal protein sources based on water type, it becomes clear that the important water footprint of beef is much more like poultry and pork. Over 90% of the water footprint for beef production is green water compared with 73% for pork and 79% for poultry. The blue and gray water footprint of beef is 158 gallons per pound compared with 146 gallons per pound for pork and 55 gallons per pound for poultry.
Understanding Water Footprints: What They Are And Why They Matter
Water footprints are a measure of the amount of water used in the production of goods and services. A water footprint accounts for the water used in the agricultural, packaging, and shipping processes used to produce the food we consume. This measure is like an environmental or ecological footprint, which takes into account the impact of human activities on the environment.
The size and characteristics of the water footprint vary across animal types and production systems. For instance, beef has a larger water footprint than other types of meat like sheep, pig, goat, or chicken. The global average water footprint of chicken egg is much smaller than that of beef. Similarly, the water footprint of cow milk is much smaller than that of beef.
Pound for pound, meat has a much higher water footprint than vegetables, grains or beans. This is because of the massive amounts of virtual water that go into creating food for livestock. Beef, which is the second most popular meat in the U.S., has the largest water footprint out of all types of meat. It takes approximately 1,847 gallons of water to produce one pound of beef.
The projected increase in the production and consumption of animal products is likely to put further pressure on the globe’s freshwater resources. Therefore, understanding water footprints and taking steps to reduce them is crucial for sustainable living. Limiting the consumption of animal products has many positive health impacts like lowering cholesterol and blood pressure and helping to prevent chronic diseases. But it also helps reduce the global footprint of water.
Reducing your beef intake is just one way to cut down on your personal water footprint. You can also avoid wasting food, reduce the amount of processed foods in your diet, and choose pasture-raised animal products when possible. Eating a plant-based diet that emphasizes minimally processed foods from plants and includes healthy proteins like nuts, seeds, beans, and tofu is another great way to decrease your global water footprint while improving your overall health.
The Water Footprint Of Beef: Why It’s So High
The water footprint of beef is so high because of the amount of water needed to sustain and feed the animals over their lifetime before they are slaughtered. Most beef cattle eat thousands of pounds of grass, corn, grains, and soybeans during their lifetime, and water is necessary to grow this diet. In fact, pound for pound, meat has a much higher water footprint than vegetables, grains, or beans. A single pound of beef takes on average 1,800 gallons of water to produce.
The water footprint of beef is also affected by the type of water used in the livestock production chain. Beef production relies heavily on green water, which is rainwater that lands on the field or pasture and requires no human intervention to use. Over 90% of the water footprint for beef production is green water compared with 73% for pork and 79% for poultry.
Moreover, regardless of the system in which the animals are raised, most of the water footprint of beef comes from how they’re fed, and more specifically the water it took to grow their feed. While they may start out eating grass, in the United States, approximately 99% of all livestock spends some final portion of their life “finishing” in a feedlot or concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO), where they eat mostly corn- and soy-based feed, along with forage like alfalfa. The other approximately 1% continue to graze on pastureland and are given little supplemental feed. Both systems have a very large green water footprint because both rely heavily on rainfall; pastureland grasses and most corn and soy crops are typically not irrigated.
Finally, industrial beef has a sizable gray water footprint because of nutrient runoff from fertilizers and pesticides applied to the corn and soy crops and contaminated runoff from mismanagement of cattle manure. In contrast, pasture-raised beef has smaller gray water footprints because there is little pollution from runoff of fertilizers and pesticides.
From Cattle Ranching To Supermarkets: The Water-Intensive Journey Of Beef
The journey of beef from cattle ranching to supermarkets is a water-intensive process. It all begins on a cow-calf farm or ranch, where cows are impregnated and give birth to calves. These newborn calves receive an identification ear-tag and are monitored by ranchers to decide whether to sell or withhold the animal. Most calves are raised on extensive, arid Southwestern ranches and are exported to the Ogallala Aquifer region for finishing on grains that are either grown locally on Ogallala Aquifer water or imported from the Upper Midwest.
During their lifetime, cows eat thousands of pounds of grass, corn, grains, and soybeans, which require large amounts of water to grow. Additionally, animal products like meat, dairy, and eggs require more water than producing fruits and vegetables. As a result, beef has the largest global water footprint out of all types of meat, requiring approximately 1,847 gallons of water to produce just one pound of beef.
The water used in the livestock production chain can be divided into three types: green, blue, and gray water. Green water is rainwater that landed on the field or pasture that required no human intervention to use. Blue water is primarily irrigation water for crops and drinking water for animals. Gray water is water used for cleaning animal facilities, processing plants, etc. From a water sustainability perspective, blue and gray water are more important than green water because they involve removing water from its natural cycle and could be used directly by humans.
When we compare the water footprint of animal protein sources based on water type, it becomes clear that the important water footprint of beef is much more like poultry and pork. Over 90% of the water footprint for beef production is green water compared with 73% for pork and 79% for poultry. The blue and gray water footprint of beef is 158 gallons per pound compared with 146 gallons per pound for pork and 55 gallons per pound for poultry.
How To Reduce Your Water Footprint When Eating Beef
Reducing your water footprint when eating beef is possible by making some simple changes in your diet. Here are some tips:
1. Eat less beef: This might seem obvious, but reducing your beef consumption is the most effective way to lower your water footprint. Consider eating smaller portions of meat or having vegetarian meals a few times a week.
2. Choose pasture-raised beef: If you do choose to eat beef, opt for pasture-raised beef instead of conventionally farmed beef. Pasture-raised beef relies mostly on rainfall, while conventionally farmed beef consumes irrigated corn that draws on the earth’s limited surface and groundwater resources.
3. Avoid wasting food: Reducing food waste is another way to lower your water footprint. When you throw away food, you’re wasting not only the water that went into producing it but also all other resources involved.
4. Eat locally and seasonally: Choosing locally grown produce that is in season can help reduce the water footprint associated with transportation and storage.
5. Choose organic: Organic farming practices often use less water than conventional farming practices.
By making these changes, you can significantly reduce your water footprint when eating beef while also promoting more sustainable agricultural practices.
Beyond Beef: Other High-Water Footprint Foods To Watch Out For
While beef has the largest global water footprint out of all types of meat, there are other foods that also have a high water footprint to watch out for. For instance, cheese has a water footprint of 600 gallons per pound, while butter has a water footprint of 1,000 gallons per pound.
Other high-water footprint foods include almonds, which require 1,929 gallons of water per pound, and avocados, which require 141 gallons of water per pound. Chocolate also has a high water footprint, requiring 3,170 gallons of water per pound.
It’s important to note that the water footprint of these foods can vary depending on factors such as production system, climate, and feed used for animals. However, the general consensus is that plant-based foods have a lower water footprint compared to animal-based products.
By reducing our consumption of high-water footprint foods and opting for plant-based alternatives, we can make a significant impact on our personal and global water usage.
