Water Footprint of Animal Breeding Industry and Driving Forces at Provincial Level in China

Abstract

Agriculture significantly contributes to the global water footprint (WF) with the animal breeding industry accounting for over 33% of agricultural water consumption. Since 2000, rapid development in animal breeding has intensified the pressure on water resources. Forecasts indicate a projected 70% increase in freshwater usage in the meat industry by 2025 compared to 2000, particularly in developing countries, such as China, yet comprehensive studies regarding China’s animal breeding industry WF remain limited. This study aimed to assess the variations in the green, blue, and gray WF of pork, beef, milk, eggs, and chicken meat across 31 provinces in China from 2000 to 2017. Additionally, a driving force analysis using the Kaya equation and LMDI method was conducted. Findings revealed that the total WF of animal products increased from 1049.67 Gm3 (in 2000) to 1385.05 Gm3 (in 2017) in China, and pork exhibited a significantly higher WF compared to other animal products, contributing 64.49% to China’s total animal product WF. The sharp rise in the green WF demonstrated regional disparities in water consumption efficiency within the animal breeding industry. The increase in the blue WF was associated with rising livestock numbers and China’s efforts to conserve water. The increase in the gray WF indicated that increased consumption of animal products heightened wastewater treatment pressures, particularly in economically developed provinces. The augmentation in China’s animal product WF was primarily influenced by policy and economic effects, with increased agricultural equipment funding and enhanced production efficiency identified as effective strategies for WF reduction. This study suggests that the promotion of technology, combined with scientific policies, can alleviate the pressure on water resources in the animal breeding industry in developing countries.