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World Water Day 2012 – Water Conservation and The Food Supply Chain

​A World Water Day 2012 blog post by Shantha Wetterhan, CSR-Supply Chain Management, Paper, North America

Shantha
The food supply chain plays an important part in the world’s access to water security. The website which was developed to promote World Water Day points out the fact that each of us drink from 2 to 4 litres of water every day, however most of the water we ‘drink’ is embedded in the food we eat: producing 1 kilo of beef for example consumes 15,000 litres of water while 1 kilo of wheat ’drinks up’ 1,500 litres.
 
This water is a very important part of the food supply chain. We have all seen the effects of a single drought on rural and impoverished communities. This natural occurrence is proof that without water, there are food shortages and a lack of nutritious food in the food supply chain.
When we waste food, we are in turn wasting the precious water used to harvest it. 
 
The United Nations recently reported that 30% of food is wasted between the farm gate and the market in less developed economies. And, in industrialized economies families throw 30% of the food that they buy away. It is important to remember that wasted food is wasted water and wasted energy.
 
But, there is something that we can do as individuals to improve this dilemma! Recently, a published report in the Water and Food Security provided one clear solution. The report determined that our individual water and energy footprint of food consumption could be reduced by 30% if each of us ate a healthy diet.
 
Some global companies have taken initiative and aligned their mission with water conservation in mind. Brands such as Nestle, Coke and Unilever have engaged their entire food supply chain in achieving sustainable production, marketing and consumption conservation.
 
There are currently 7 billion people to feed on this planet. This seems like a lot, however if we take the right steps through awareness, we can all affect change at each step of the supply chain. This can ensure that there is enough food to go around for all of us.
Shantha Wetterhan
 
 
WorldInternational World Water Day is held annually on March 22 as a means of focusing attention on the importance of freshwater and advocating for the sustainable management of freshwater resources.
 
In 2012, the theme is Water and Food Security and it is coordinated by FAO on behalf of UN-Water.
 
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