Virtual water (aka embedded water, embodied water, or hidden water) refers, in the context of trade, to water used in the production of a good or service. Trillions of gallons of virtual water are transferred in the global trade of agricultural products - - comparable to the volume of water that yearly flows down the Congo River. Regions leading in beef and grain exports are the top exporters of virtual water. To feed a growing population, experts say that water-use efficiency will need to double in the next 20 years. Weighting the export value of a crop against its impact on the local water supply, and charging more to reflect the water's value, could become part of the equation.
Specifically - -
- Japan imports 15 times more virtual water than it exports, the highest disparity for any country.
- Italy has Europe's largest virtual water trade deficit. Imports exceed exports by 13 trillion gallons.
- Africa's top virtual-water exports to Europe are olive oil, cotton, peanuts, sesame-seed products, leather, and hides.
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