Water Needs in Animal Feed: A Global Perspective

You might think that farms mainly use water for their animals to drink. But here's a surprising fact: the food these animals eat also needs a lot of water. A recent study dug into this by looking at 140 different types of animal feed in 262 countries. They found out that the water used comes in two types: green water, which is rainwater, and blue water, which comes from sources like lakes and rivers. To figure out these amounts, the researchers used a special model called WATNEEDS. This model takes into account data about crops, climate, and how much feed each animal needs.This study is important because it helps us understand how livestock farming affects water resources. By knowing this, farmers and people who make policies can make better decisions about water use. It's like having a map that shows where and how much water is needed, so we can use it more wisely.