Producing a Kilogram of Beef Requires 15,000 Liters of Water, While a Kilogram of Potatoes Only Requires 287 Liters
Beef vs Potatoes: The Staggering Difference in Water Footprint
When it comes to the water required to produce food, not all calories are created equal. A new analysis highlights the massive disparity in the amount of water needed to produce beef compared to potatoes.
According to the data, producing a single kilogram of beef requires an astonishing 15,000 liters of water. In contrast, a kilogram of potatoes only requires 287 liters of water. That means growing beef uses over 50 times more water than growing an equivalent amount of potatoes.
The reason for this huge difference comes down to the inefficiency of raising livestock. Cows require large amounts of water to drink, but the majority of the water footprint comes from the crops and grains fed to them. It takes about 15 pounds of grain to produce just 1 pound of beef.