Title page abstract introduction conclusions references tables figures j i j i back close full screen esc printerfriendly version interactive discussion 2 methods in this paper, we quantify the virtual water trade. The purpose of this contribution is first, to respond to the request for clarification of the term virtual water by stephen merrett. As commodities are internationally traded, one can depict a network of fluxes of the water that is somehow embodied in the goods exchanged across countries. Virtual water trade proceedings of the international expert meeting on virtual water trade, edited by a. This paper discusses specialised water reporting instruments such as the water footprint calculation method and demonstrates its usefulness in measuring and monitoring corporate sustainability. When a country imports one tonne of wheat instead of producing it domestically, it saves. Several studies have emphasized the emerging but critical roles of network of virtual water trade in water management 21,22,23 and regional water systems 22. Virtual water the water, food, and trade nexus useful concept or misleading metaphor.
Virtual water proponents believe insufficient attention is placed on demand management in comparison to supply. The relation between international trade and freshwater. Its legitimacy in terms of economic theory has been questioned by a number of authors, however. Virtual water trade refers to the idea that when goods and services are exchanged, so is virtual water. Aug 04, 2016 virtual water trade therefore reflects the virtual water traded between countries when they trade commodities, goods and services. To address the issues of the indirect effects of water trade through the global economic circulation, we use ecological network analysis ena to shed insight into the complicated system interactions. Jan 03, 2012 global water interdependencies are likely to increase with growing virtual water trade.
Virtual water trade as a strategy to water resource. Tony allan, soaskings college london, water research group, the strand, london, united kingdom abstract. There are some studies about virtual water trade that show water is a key factor to produce waterintensive products and countries can save their water resources due to using virtual water trade. For example, producing one kilogram of wheat requires roughly litres of water, giving it a virtual water content of litres, according to figures released by the world water council. The water content available in the crop is defined as the water content embedded in the crop at the time of trade as percentage of weight of the crop, which differs from the virtual water content.
The procedures behind these three options might differ significantly as will be illustrated hereafter. Virtual water trade is increasingly recognized as a useful metaphor for thinking about freshwater resources in an international context. And in the last 20 years, a multitude of analyses have studied these dependencies. Everyone knows we use water for drinking and washing. However, the introduction of virtual water concept as a policy option in egypt is still in need for extensive investigations, research, and feasibility evaluation. A gravity model of virtual water trade sciencedirect. Virtual water is commonly defined as the volume of water used to produce a certain commodity. Exports of paper pulp, soybeans or ethanol from latin america to europe or china imply large exports of virtual water. Virtual water trading could benefit developing countries. Virtual water trade to japan and in the world 223 the numbers of irrigation water requirement m3ha in table2. A quantification of virtual water flows between nations in relation to international trade of livestock and livestock products a.
Virtual water trade flows and savings under climate change. International trade in commodities implies longdistance transfers of water in virtual form, where virtual water is understood as the volume of water that has been used to produce a commodity and that is thus virtually embedded in it. Ecological network analysis on global virtual water trade. Only this trade in virtual water bound up in grains and vegetable oil. The agricultural virtual water trade is estimated to contribute 248 billion cubic metres to the water security of the mena region every year, and this thesis examines the theory of the virtual water trade to find out how exactly the region has integrated into that trade. Economic aspects of virtual water trade iopscience. The mena region, the virtual water trade, and the opportunity. Virtual water the water, food, and trade nexus useful. This in turn led to the concept of virtual water trade the volumes of water embedded in the flow of exports and imports of products to and from a country or region. Virtual water trade as a solution for water scarcity in egypt. Impact of virtual water trade virtual water trade as a policy option requires a thorough understanding of its impacts not only related to international trade regimes and dependencies but also on the local, social, environmental, economic and cultural situation. Analysis of country level data on renewable freshwater availability and net virtual water trade of 146 nations.
Virtual water really went along with this idea that we live in a connected world, he says. This type of global virtual water trade has geopolitical implications. India loses, china gains water through food trade food exports are running india dry, while china is conserving its water supply by importing water intensive crops such as soya, a new analysis of the two countries water footprint reveals. On the economics of virtual water trade sciencedirect. The relation between international trade and freshwater scarcity. It is therefore interesting to know the specific water requirements of various consumer goods, particularly the waterintensive ones.
Currently, egypts net virtual water import as a percentage of water. Instead, the international trade in waterintensive commodities between waterabundant and waterpoor countries can help waterpoor countries save resources. An assessment of water use efficiency in the international food trade article pdf available in hydrology and earth system sciences 103 june 2006 with 648 reads. A spatialtemporal analysis of the comparative advantage of land, labor and water in china dandan zhao a, b, klaus hubacek b, c, d, kuishuang feng b, laixiang sun b, d, e. Virtual water trade and external virtual water virtual water tradebetweenorwithin nationscanbeseenas an alternative to actual water transfer. When you look at the math, you realize that there are people who are very dependent on virtual water trade, both as importers and as exporters, ruddell says. The argument that economies that face acute water scarcity problems can and should meet their water demand for food through cereal imports from water rich countries.
The water it takes to grow an apple or make a tshirt is called. The concept of virtual, or embedded, water was first developed as a way of understanding how water scarce countries could provide food, clothing and other water intensive goods to their inhabitants. Global virtual water trade and the hydrological cycle. Virtual water definitions and historical trends virtual water trade amount of water embedded in commodity production that is then traded in the global market allen 1998 recent studies have found virtual water trading has at least doubled between 19872007. Virtual water trade a realistic concept for resolving the water crisis. Test your knowledge about virtual water, the water you didnt know you were using. When international trade of food crops or other commodities takes place, there is a. Virtual water trade as a solution for water scarcity in. The virtual water export from a nation is the sum of the virtual water export from domestic water resources and the reexported virtual water of foreign origin. The global trade in goods has allowed countries with limited water resources to rely on the. Proceedingsofthe internationalexpertmeeting onvirtualwatertrade. Understanding the virtual water trade concept and strategy is important for formulating informed policies for improving water use efficiency at different levels. Indeed, as discussed below, the concept of virtual water was first used to highlight the role of trade in food products as a way of addressing water. A global model of virtual water flow among agriculture and livestock production trade in 19951999 is.
In principle, the virtual water flows should help establish how the water resources in one country are used to support consumption in another countrysc. Article on the economics of virtual water trade id. Virtual water is water used in the production of food or electricity. The virtual water trade also known as trade in embedded or embodied water, a concept introduced by tony allan, is the hidden flow of water if food or other commodities are traded from one place to another. Evaluation of external virtual water export and dependency. An empirical research on agricultural trade between china and. Virtual water trade between nations and even continents could thus ideally be used as an instrument to improve global water use efficiency, to achieve water.
Agricultural water foot print and virtual water budget in. A quantification of virtual water flows between nations in relation to international crop trade, value of the water research report series no. The total volume of the international virtual water trade is estimated to be between 1100 and 2300 km 3 yr. Virtual water trade and time scales for loss of water. Several studies have emphasized the role of virtual water trade in globalization of water resource and in the overall food requirement. Pdf amid an increasing water scarcity in many parts of the world, virtual water trade as both a policy instrument and practical means to. Some of these controversies can be resolved by a closer examination of trade theory. This concept has been highly controversial among economists, however.
But did you know that all the food we eat and products we buy take water to grow and manufacture. Pdf virtual water trade proceedings of the international. A quantification of virtual water flows between nations in relation to international crop trade. Jun 19, 2008 every ton of wheat arriving at a dockside carries with it, in virtual form, the thousand tons of water needed to grow it. Savings and losses of global water resources in foodrelated. Relying on virtual water in the form of food imports is increasingly. Highlights the virtual water metaphor helps place water issues in an international context. I develop new results that place virtual water on a firmer economic foundation. Pdf the original idea behind the virtual water vw concept is that water abundant countries will become producers of waterintensive goods.