Virtual water and food miles

 If The concept of virtual water is to accomplish water equity, and so meet the needs of essentials like food and clothing in regions where water is scarce, it is necessary to transport these products from country to country. An international value chain is a necessity of virtual water. If water Abundant areas are to support water scarce areas by growing foods the needed there in their own regions, and exporting them.

It seems intuitive then this would increase the food’s carbon footprint. And that this would be an unwanted byproduct of virtual water.

However, the data shows that if we are to reduce the carbon footprint of our food, it is not the distance travelled that matters.

For most foods most GHG emissions result from change of land use and farming. Together these account for more than 80% of the food carbon footprint.

In contrast Transport accounts for less than 10%.

So when you consider a whole balance taking into account both water and carbon, It is not the distance transported that tips that balance.

Instead, we need to look at the largest emitters;

most GHG emissions result from land use change and from processes at the farm stage. Farm-stage emissions include processes such as the application of fertilizers — both organic (“manure management”) and synthetic; and enteric fermentation (the production of methane in the stomachs of cattle).

This holds true not just for higher emitters, such as beef, But also for plant based foods, such as peas.