Big agriculture is a bigger problem than big oil!
“The problem with agriculture is agricultural runoff and any human activity that taxes the natural environment.”
The “most” and “least” water-intensive food crops depends on whether you measure total global consumption or water use per kilogram (efficiency).
Most Water-Intensive Crops
- By Total Global Consumption: Rice is the thirstiest crop worldwide, accounting for the highest total water use. In 2020, rice cultivation consumed approximately 1,183 km³ of water annually when including paddy flooding.
- By Efficiency (Per Kilogram):Tree nuts (especially almonds, pistachios, and walnuts) are some of the most water-intensive crops per unit.
- Almonds: Require up to 15,000 liters per kilogram. A single almond can take roughly 12 liters (about 3 gallons) to grow.
- Sugarcane: Often cited as the least water-efficient major field crop, requiring 1,500–2,500 mm of water during its growth cycle.
Least Water-Intensive Crops
Plant-based foods like vegetables, roots, and certain grains generally have the smallest water footprints.
- Root Vegetables: Roots and tubers like potatoes, carrots, and beets are highly water-efficient.
- Potatoes: Require only about 38 gallons per pound compared to 287 gallons for rice.
- Drought-Tolerant Staples:
- Millet and Sorghum: These grains are significantly more water-efficient than wheat or rice.
- Tepary Beans: Native to the American Southwest, these can grow with almost no supplemental water once established.
- Cacti and Succulents: Crops like the prickly pear are extremely well-adapted to arid conditions and require minimal water.
- Seeds: Pumpkin and watermelon seeds use 20 to 90 times less water than tree nuts like almonds.
