U.S. Food-Related Water Use Varies by Food Category, Supply Chain Stage, and Dietary Pattern

Water is a key input for food production. It is used on farms to grow crops, raise livestock, clean processing equipment, generate electricity, and rinse produce. While water is important, available freshwater for human use is scarce. Much like other natural resources, freshwater is faced with supply and demand stresses, including population growth, climate change, and changing consumer preferences.