Decomposition Analysis of Global Water Supply-Demand Balances Focusing on Food Production and Consumption

Yohei Yamaguchi, Naoki Yoshikawa, Koji Amano and Seiji Hashimoto
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Yohei Yamaguchi: Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Ritsumeikan University, Kusatsu 525-8577, Japan
Naoki Yoshikawa: College of Science and Engineering, Ritsumeikan University, Kusatsu 525-8577, Japan
Koji Amano: College of Gastronomy Management, Ritsumeikan University, Kusatsu 525-8577, Japan
Seiji Hashimoto: College of Science and Engineering, Ritsumeikan University, Kusatsu 525-8577, Japan

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 14, 1-32

Abstract: Food production and consumption require large amounts of freshwater. There is no literature on the decomposition analysis of the intensities of water supply-demand balances (water balance intensities) for each country worldwide. The aim of this study is to evaluate the water balance intensities and elucidate the promoting factors and offset factors of water balance intensities for each country worldwide, focusing on food supply-demand balances and considering food trade balances on a global scale. The modified Laspeyres index method is applied to both a production-based water balance index ( WBI PB ) and a consumption-based water balance index ( WBI CB ). The major promoting factor for the WBI PB is the renewable freshwater resources, whereas the major offset factor is the produced item preference. The major promoting factor for the WBI CB is the consumed item preference, whereas the major offset factor is the producing area preference. Improving irrigation efficiencies of rice and cereals is effective because rice requires the largest blue water footprint intensities, considering irrigation efficiency on a calorie content basis in all of the items, whereas cereals are the largest share of calorie-based production quantities in all of the items worldwide. This study provides the foundation for decreasing water balance intensities regarding food production and consumption.

Keywords: water balance index; modified Laspeyres index method; water footprint; blue water; food supply-demand balances; global analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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