Investigation into water consumption utilising U.S. meat consumption data and UNESCO's Water Footprint data to highlight U.S. water consumption through beef, chicken and pork then identify less water intensive food substitutes.

1. How much water do we eat?
Tony Black
me@tony-black.com
4 Aug 2018

2. What is a water footprint?
Rain water consumed
Agriculture
Horticulture
Fresh water consumed
Irrigated Agriculture
Domestic water
Water required to
Dilute pollutants

3. What are the water footprints
for meat?

4. Blue Water Footprint Grey Water Footprint

5. Green WaterGreen Water Footprint

6. Total Water Footprint

7. How much meat does the
U.S. consume?

8. U.S. Beef Consumption Since 1966

9. U.S. Chicken Consumption Since 1966

10. U.S. Pork Consumption Since 1966

11. Pork Trends (Google)

12. U.S. Meat* Consumption Since 1966
22%

13. U.S. Water Footprint Since 1966
15%

14. So why is this important?

15. Water facts
Agricultural production contributes 92% to humanity’s total footprint.
Water scarcity affects over 2.7 billion people for at least one month each year.
The footprint of beef depends on factors such as the type of production system and the
feed of the cow.92%
Agriculture’s contribution to our water footprint
Source: UNESCO Institute of Water Education, Global Water Scarcity 2011

16. Water facts
Agricultural production contributes 92% to humanity’s total footprint.
Water scarcity affects over 2.7 billion people for at least one month each year.
The footprint of beef depends on factors such as the type of production system and the
feed of the cow.
2.7 billion
Source: UNESCO Institute of Water Education, Global Water Scarcity 2011
Global water scarcity for one month each year

17. What can we do to reduce our
water footprint?

18. Food Category - Protein, Calorie & Fat Content

19. Food Category Water Footprint

20. Fruit & Nut Water Footprint

21. The Answer:
Eat less meat and more beans