Saving Water by Choosing the Right Food: What You Need to Know

Summary

Agriculture takes up 80% of California’s water usage, which is why it’s important to choose the right food to save water. Beef and lamb are the worst offenders, while eggs are the most water-efficient protein. Okra and asparagus are the most water-intensive vegetables compared to carrots, while strawberries are the most water-efficient fruit. Milk, orange juice, and beer are more water-efficient beverages compared to wine. Registered dietician nutritionist Jessica Guterman provides meal options rich in protein, minerals, and vitamins but requiring only 650 gallons of water. The Wired guide to drought-friendly produce points to crops that require less water. Moreover, almonds, often criticized for their water usage, contribute significantly to California’s economy compared to alfalfa that uses more water to feed cows.

Introduction
What are the worst food items in terms of water usage?
What are the best food items in terms of water usage?
What are the water-efficient beverage options?
How can we have a water-efficient diet?
What are some crops that require less water?
Are almonds really the worst offenders in terms of water usage?
What can we do to reduce water usage in agriculture?
Conclusion

Introduction:

California is going through an unprecedented drought, and in April 2015, Governor Jerry Brown mandated the state’s first-ever water restrictions. Though municipal water usage is only a small part of the state’s water usage, at 80%, agriculture consumes the most water. It is, therefore, essential to know which foods use the most water, especially in a drought-ridden state like California. Wired’s guide to drought-friendly produce ranks various crops by water usage and organizes them by season. This Q&A delves into the best and the worst food items based on their water usage.

What are the worst food items in terms of water usage?

Beef and lamb require an enormous amount of water per calorie or per gram of protein. For example, it takes 638 gallons of water to produce a 6-ounce piece of beef, which is 2.66 tons of water. Lentils, garbanzo beans, and lamb follow closely behind as significant water consumers. Surprisingly, however, even asparagus and okra are the most water-intensive vegetables compared to carrots.

What are the best food items in terms of water usage?

Eggs are the most water-efficient protein. It takes 3.67 gallons of water per gram of protein to produce eggs. Chicken, which requires 4.76 gallons per gram of protein, comes in second. The humble egg wins in the water to calorie ratio, coming in at just a quarter gallon per calorie. Strawberries are the most water-efficient fruit, consuming only 10 gallons per 8 ounces.

What are the water-efficient beverage options?

Milk and wine are not very water-efficient beverages, requiring 44 and 2 gallons of water per 8 ounces, respectively. Orange juice is better, requiring 33 gallons per 8 ounces. Beer is the most water-efficient beverage, requiring only 16 gallons per 8 ounces.

How can we have a water-efficient diet?

Registered dietician nutritionist Jessica Guterman has designed a meal plan that provides high protein, calories, fiber, and nutrients while requiring only 650 gallons of water. This meal plan is better nutritionally than a high-water one, and five people can eat it before reaching the water consumption of an individual who consumes a high-water diet.

What are some crops that require less water?

Wired’s guide ranks various crops by water usage and organizes them by season. Carrots, for example, are the most water-efficient vegetables, consuming only 7.4 gallons per 8 ounces, while asparagus and okra require 163 and 62 gallons per 8 ounces, respectively.

Are almonds really the worst offenders in terms of water usage?

Almonds have been widely criticized for their water usage during the drought, but they consume only about 184 gallons per 8 ounces, which is just above asparagus. Considering the high-protein, high-calorie, and economic value provided by almonds in California, they are not major water consumers, unlike alfalfa.

What can we do to reduce water usage in agriculture?

Agriculture should adopt sustainable water management practices and increase its efficiency to reduce water usage during droughts. Also, there should be a policy shift towards crop diversification that requires less irrigation. On the other hand, exporting less alfalfa, a major water consumer that is not used to feed American cows, could save millions of gallons of water.

Conclusion:

Considering 80% of California’s water goes to agriculture, food choices have a significant impact on water consumption. As shown in Wired’s guide, choosing drought-friendly crops and meals is an effective way to conserve water during the drought. Furthermore, the agriculture sector should adopt sustainable water practices, including crop diversification and maximizing efficiency, to reduce water usage.