Much of the world is running out of water. Over 1 billion people worldwide do not have access to clean water and more than double that number do not have proper sanitation. The Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) estimates that by 2025 there will be 1.8 billion people living with absolute water scarcity and two thirds of the World’s population could be living under water-stressed conditions. Agricultural production consumes more fresh water than any other human activity*14 and demand for water-intensive food items like meat and dairy products is placing increased stress on food production systems*15.

Livestock production accounts for over 8% of global human water consumption*8

Meat produced in different parts of the world requires different amounts of water due to variations in species, rainfall, hygiene standards, drinking needs, slaughter, butchering, cleaning, packaging and also the water required to grow the animals’ feed. As a result, estimates of the water required to produce a kilo of beef vary, from 13,000 litres*14 right up to100,000 litres*18. Whichever figure you use, the damage is plain when you consider that the water required to produce a kilo of wheat is somewhere between 1,000-2,000 litres.

Rearing animals for meat also contributes significantly to water pollution. With animal waste, antibiotics and hormones entering the water cycle alongside chemicals from tanneries, fertilizers and the pesticides used to spray feed crops.

In large amounts, animal waste can present major problems to the waterways and surrounding environment.

More than 2 billion tonnes of animal manure were produced worldwide during the late 1990s. Assuming an average nitrogen content of around 5%, this makes 100 million tonnes of nitrogen*7 finding its way into our water system. In the Gulf of Mexico, pollutants in animal waste have contributed to a “dead zone” where there is not enough oxygen to support aquatic life. During the summer of 2004, this dead zone extended over 5,800 square miles*19.