EU and China at risk from water scarcity via imports of Brazil beef and soy - Insights - Trase
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New research by Trase reveals the colossal amount of water used to produce soy and beef in Brazil, and recommends ways to address the risks of water scarcity for global food security.

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Here you can find more about the Stockholm Environment Institute and the research.

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Researchers have found that 18% of water use for China’s soy and beef imports from Brazil, and 54% of water use for the EU’s soy and beef imports from Brazil, came from river basins with either high or critical water scarcity. This means that a significant portion of the trade in these commodities is exposed to physical risks due to reduced water availability.

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The river basins of Paraná, Tocantins-Araguaia, Amazon and São Francisco [all in Brazil] are key sources of water needed to produce and export soy and beef to China and the EU. However, these basins also supply water for domestic use, industry and energy generation, as well as for ecosystems. As climate change worsens, there is likely to be growing competition over diminishing water resources.

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  • Szewek@sopuli.xyzEnglish
    1·
    16 days ago

    Interesting point!

    In line with the uses of soy globally (Figure 3), the greatest driver underlying the production increase in South America is most likely the pig and poultry industry’s demand for soy cake, although it is given additional impetus by concurrent increases in the demand for soy oil by the food manufacturing and biofuel industries (see section 3).

    https://www.tabledebates.org/building-blocks/soy-food-feed-and-land-use-change#SOYBB3

    Most of the calories from soy go into the fodder. This is unlike other plants used for oils. I doubt so much soy would be used for oil if not for the profits from “byproducts”.