Food Demand‐Driven Scarce Water Use Amplified by Pollution in China

Abstract

AbstractFood system has significant impacts on water scarcity, which in turn becomes a bottleneck for food security and socioeconomic development. Existing research has primarily concentrated on the relationship between food consumption and quantity‐based scarce water use but has overlooked quality‐based scarce water use. Here, we constructed an aggregative scarce water use indicator, considering water quantity and water quality simultaneously. The food demand‐driven aggregative scarce water use of Chinese provinces in 2017 was investigated based on a scarce‐water extended multiregional input‐output model. The results demonstrated that food demand‐driven scarce water use is amplified eight (8) times by water quality degradation. Henan, Shanxi, and Tianjin were found to be the primary contributors to the food demand‐driven aggregative use of scarce water. Moreover, the study reveals food demand‐driven virtual aggregative scarce water flows among regions and sectors. Production‐side measures on reducing water scarcity include the improvements of water use efficiency and wastewater treatment capacity in exporters of net virtual aggregative scarce water (e.g., Hebei and Henan). Furthermore, demand‐side measures are equally important, including food demand optimization in importers of net virtual aggregative scarce water (e.g., Zhejiang and Beijing). In addition, interregional cooperation (e.g., transferring advanced water conservation and contaminant mitigation technologies from developed regions to regions with high aggregative water scarcity) in China is critical for promoting the sustainable management of food and water resources. The study's findings provide significant insights for policymakers at the regional and interregional levels to develop coordinated water resource and environment management strategies in China.