Key figure of the week: the water footprint for cereal production

Sources: Figure 1 // Figure 2 //Figure 3

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Water is an essential resource for agriculture, but managing it is a major challenge. Indeed, the water footprint for the cultivation of certain agricultural products, including cereals, is substantial.

The water footprint in agriculture refers to the total quantity of water required to produce one unit of agricultural product, i.e. the sum of blue water (irrigation water), green water (rainwater) and grey water (polluted water) required at each stage of the agricultural supply chain.

Faced with the phenomena of drought (cf. Postcard "Drought and the French"), it is possible for everyone to take action on a daily basis and thus contribute to reducing the pressure on available water resources, not only by reducing their direct water consumption but also by making informed food choices and supporting sustainable agricultural practices.

OiEau, a public interest association, has been working in France and around the world for over 30 years, providing training to improve water resource management in the agricultural sector.

In partnership with the French Biodiversity Agency (OFB), OiEau is taking action to raise public awareness of the importance of preserving water and biodiversity, through the production of a glossary, key figures and data monitoring.