Water Shortages mean Less Food Per Capita

June 25, 2007 · Filed Under Threats to Food Supply 

A key factor in increased food supplies in the past 50 years has been irrigation, often pumped using fossil fuel energy. About 70% of all water use is for irrigation. Population growth implies that we will need much more irrigation, but in fact water supplies in many areas are falling. As demand for water has increased, aquifers have been overpumped in many parts of the world and some have collapsed and will not refill with water.

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