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Meat production may lead to water apocalypse, study says
Story Date: 9/10/2012
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Source: Michael Fielding, MEATINGPLACE, 9/10/12
As long as consumers slash their consumption of animal-based food calories to 5 percent from 20 percent currently, there should be just enough water to keep the human race alive but not enough to produce affordable meat products.
So say researchers with the Stockholm International Water Institute. They’ve released a report that warns of a near-waterless world as early as mid-century if current production practices remain in place to produce enough meat to feed us.
Although beef prices are at historic highs, the appetite for ground beef has not diminished: Dollar sales of ground beef have remained strong this year, according to the Beef Checkoff.
That’s the crux of the report, “Feeding a Thirsty World: Challenges and Opportunities for a Water and Food Secure World.” According to the researchers, who analyzed current cropland, food production and purchasing power using World Bank statistics, the production of meat will become so expensive that few consumers will be able to afford it.
They found that there will not be enough water available on current croplands to produce food for the expected population in 2050 if the world follows the current Western diet of 3,000 kilocalories produced per capita (including 20 percent of calories produced coming from animal proteins).
Yet compared to 1977, beef production in 2007 required 30 percent fewer animals, 33 percent less land, 12 percent less water, 9 percent less fossil fuels and had a carbon footprint 16 percent lower per pound of beef, according to consultant Judith Capper.
For more stories, go to http://www.meatingplace.com/.
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