Water footprint and virtual water flows from the Global South: Foundations for sustainable agriculture in periods of drought

• Published in: The Science of the total environment Vol. 869; p. 161526
• Main Authors: Novoa, Vanessa, Rojas, Octavio, Ahumada-Rudolph, Ramón, Arumí, José Luis, Munizaga, Juan, de la Barrera, Francisco, Cabrera-Pardo, Jaime R., Rojas, Carolina
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 15.04.2023
• Subjects: Availability basin; Climate variability; Export; Mediterranean; Water management; Water scarcity; Mediterranean; Availability basin; Export; Water management; Climate variability; Water scarcity
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.161526

Freshwater availability has decreased alarmingly worldwide, with agriculture playing a vital role in this trend. The assessment of the agricultural water footprint (WFagricultural) and virtual water flows (VWF) is fundamental not only in local water resources management and protection, but also in our understanding of the synergies between local water consumption and global markets. Thus, the WFagricultural – broken down into its components (blue, green, and gray) – of the leading 21 crops (grouped in fruit, legumes, cereals, and vegetables), grown in four basins with the most significant agricultural activity in central Chile was determined, estimated in two consecutive years 2017–2018. In addition, due to their great importance in exports, VWFs were assessed, establishing connections according to their origins and destinations. The results show that the green and gray water footprints increased significantly in the south-central basins, while blue water consumption increased in the basins of the central zone, reflecting an evident WFagricultural transition in accord with latitude and climate conditions. Furthermore, VWF showed an annual increase of 44 %, in about 116 destinations, with Asia, Europe, and North America being the preferred destinations, with annual variations of VWFblue- gray associated with increases in exports of apples, cherries, grapes, blueberries, and walnuts, market preferences and growing areas. The present study is an initial step toward sustainable agriculture in a commodity exporting country, one that is relevant in the exploitation of virtual water yet faces severe water deficit problems, distribution, and local water policies. Therefore, contributing to encouraging the efficiency and value of water in the process of a new institutional framework. [Display omitted] •The WFagricultural and VWF with the major Chilean crops' blue, green, and gray components were quantified.•Evident WFagricultural and VWF transition in accord with latitude and climate conditions•Greater WFagricultural in legumes and cereals, but greater CWU in fruits•Annual VWFblue, green, gray changes in accord with products, cultivation areas, and dynamic markets.•VWFblue-gray contributes 72–77 % in VWF, a strong consequence of water scarcity.