2 ways you can conserve the water used to make your food
As climate change intensifies, farmers face increasing challenges in food production due to droughts and water shortages. To address these issues, many have shifted from traditional flood irrigation methods to more efficient watering techniques such as sprinklers and drip systems. This transition not only conserves water but also enhances crop yields by delivering moisture directly to the plants’ roots. However, addressing water conservation in agriculture requires a multifaceted approach that includes not just farmers, but also policymakers, researchers, and consumers.
Farmers can optimize water usage by selecting crops that are better suited to their local climate and soil conditions. For instance, reducing the cultivation of water-intensive crops like alfalfa and opting for more resilient varieties such as corn and potatoes can significantly alleviate pressure on limited water resources. Furthermore, adopting sustainable soil management practices—like planting cover crops, minimizing tillage, and utilizing compost—can improve soil health and its capacity to retain moisture. These practices not only support crops during droughts but also contribute to long-term agricultural sustainability.
Consumers play a vital role in the water conservation equation as well. The dietary choices people make can have a substantial impact on agricultural water use. For example, producing beef requires approximately 1,800 gallons of water per pound, compared to just 500 gallons for chicken. By reducing meat consumption or opting for plant-based alternatives, individuals can decrease their food-related water usage by nearly 30%. Additionally, tackling food waste presents another significant opportunity for conservation. In the U.S., about 22% of total water use is linked to food that goes uneaten, with households discarding nearly half of all food waste. By being more mindful of food consumption and storage, consumers can not only help save water but also reduce their grocery bills. Collectively, these actions can lead to meaningful water savings and promote a more sustainable food system.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1N6iPxoRu4
Irrigation equipment waters an alfalfa field in Kansas.
AP Photo/Charlie Riedel
As the world’s climate warms and
droughts and water shortages are becoming more common
, farmers are struggling to produce enough food. Farmers continue to adapt, but there are ways for you to help, too.
For decades, farmers have sought to conserve water in agriculture, with a focus on improving irrigation efficiency. That has included decreasing the practice of
flood irrigation
, in which water flows through trenches between rows of plants. Instead, many farmers are adopting more
precise methods of delivering water
to plants’ roots, such as sprinklers and drip systems.
In recent years, policymakers, researchers and consumers have come to look more closely at opportunities to conserve water throughout the entire process of growing, shipping, selling and eating food. Working with colleagues, we have identified
several key ways to reduce water used in agriculture
– some of which directly involve farmers, but two of which everyone can follow, to help reduce how much water is used to grow the food they eat.
Some work for farmers
Farmers can match crops to
local land, water and climate conditions
to reduce stress on scarce resources and make food production more sustainable in the long run. That could include
reducing the amount of alfalfa and other hay crops
used to feed livestock, or swapping out wheat and sorghum and
instead planting corn and potatoes
.
The condition of the soil also matters. Many farmers have focused on short-term productivity, relying on
fertilizers or frequent tillage
to boost yields from one season to the next. But over time, those practices wear down the soil, making it
less fertile and less able to hold water
.
Soil is not just a surface to grow things on. It is a living system that can be built and fed or depleted. Practices such as planting
cover crops in the off-season to protect the soil
,
reducing tillage
,
applying compost
and
rotating different types of crops
can all help soil hold more water and support crops even during droughts.
A choice for consumers
Adapting on-farm practices addresses only part of the water conservation effort. While crops are grown in fields, they move through a vast network of
processors, distributors, supermarkets and households
before being eaten, wasted or lost. At each link in this chain, consumers’ choices determine how much agricultural water is ultimately saved.
People’s dietary preferences, in particular, play a major role in agricultural water use. Producing
meat requires significantly more water
than growing plant-based foods.
Per capita, Americans consume
nearly three times the global average amount
of meat each year.
While eliminating meat altogether is not everyone’s goal, even modest shifts in diet, whether reducing overall meat consumption or selecting proteins that use less water to produce, can ease the strain. Producing a pound of beef requires
an estimated 1,800 gallons of water
, compared with about 500 gallons for a pound of chicken.
Replacing all meat with the equivalent quantities of plant-based foods with comparable nutrition profiles could cut the average American’s food-related water use
by nearly 30%
. Even replacing a small amount of meat with plant-based foods or meats that require less water can make a difference.
While a single meal may seem inconsequential, if multiplied across millions of households these choices translate into meaningful water savings.
How much water did it take to grow all this discarded food?
Sarah Reingewirtz/MediaNews Group/Los Angeles Daily News via Getty Images
A second savings opportunity
Perhaps the simplest and most powerful step people can take to save water used in agriculture is to cut back on food waste.
In the United States,
22% of total water use
is tied to producing food that ultimately goes uneaten.
In developing countries, losses often result from limited storage and transportation, but in high-income nations like the United States, most waste happens at the retail and household level. In the U.S., households alone account for
nearly 50% of all food discarded
nationwide.
This creates a major opportunity for everyone to contribute to water conservation. Understanding the water embedded in different foods can make people more mindful about what ends up in the trash.
And on top of feeling good about helping the environment, there’s a financial reward: Wasting less food also means saving the money spent on food that would have gone to waste.
Huma Tariq Malik receives funding from USDA.
Thomas Borch receives funding from NSF, USDA, and NOAA.
