Diets change the demand for freshwater in Asia

At a conference on global clean water issues held in Sweden last week, scientists said switching to a high-protein Western diet of Asians could lead to a lack of regular food. Crossing the region is under pressure for this fresh water.

Experts at the World Freshwater Week in Stockholm warn that Asia's growing economy and shifting to a meat-eating habit demand a re-improvement of the irrigation system for Agricultural production to feed the population is estimated to reach 1.4 billion people by 2050.

This threat is analyzed in detail in a report by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) whereby the need for food for humans and animals farming will double in the next 40 years.

With the current crop productivity, East Asia will need 47% more irrigated irrigated land and 70% freshwater compared to the present.

South Asia will have to expand cultivated land by 30% and increase water demand by 57%. With the current pressure on water and land resources in the region, these needs will not be satisfied, the study authors said. For example, in South Asia, 94% of suitable land is now cultivated.

Instead, scientists propose to modernize existing large-scale irrigation systems, most of which were built in the 1970-80s.

This means replacing old systems with more efficient, reliable and flexible technologies, said Thierry Falcon, FAO's irrigation expert.

Irregular irrigation

It is estimated that India, which consumes the largest amount of groundwater in the world, has 19 million uncontrolled groundwater pumps.

According to another study published in Nature earlier this month, groundwater in northern India is shrinking by 0.3 m per year due to widespread water intake, mainly for crop production.

(Photo: AP / Anupam Nath)

From 2002 to 2008, more than 109 km3 of groundwater was mined in the area, according to a survey based on satellite images conducted by scientists with the help of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Control Center. .

Tushaar Shah, IWMI staff member, said: 'The government is unable to regulate, causing the situation of excessive groundwater exploitation to become increasingly serious, most likely in the future will lead to food crisis. and widespread social unrest. '

The cows are thirsty

In China, demand for water consumption per capita has doubled since 1985, said Junguo Liu, a lecturer at Beijing Forestry University. It is the shift from traditional food with rice and pasta to a higher protein diet that is behind this, he said.

According to researchers, to produce every kilogram of rice or wheat requires only 1m3 of water, while people need up to 12.6 m3 of water to get one kilogram of beef.

'Changes in food consumption habits are the main cause of exacerbating water scarcity in China,' Liu said.

It is estimated that the total amount of water required for food production in China will increase by 40% to 50% in the next 30 years, he added.

'Where do we get such a large amount of water? This is really a big question, a big challenge . '

'If other developing countries also switch to Western-like diets like China, global water scarcity will become more serious.'

Climate Change

The authors note that this IWMI study does not take into account the effects of climate change on water reserves, thus the gloomy prospect that the study indicates is likely to be the projections. guess optimistic.

Climate predictions made by ADB Asian Development Bank in Stockholm yesterday showed that the area of ​​irrigated wheat and rice in the region could fall by 21% and 16% respectively by 2050. .

'This is really a big problem, and it will certainly have a big impact on future food prices,' said David McCauley, ADB's climate change expert.