Virtual Water
Many people believe that Japan is rich in water resources. The average rainfall in Japan is about twice as great as that of other countries. Yet, Japan is said to be the largest importer of water. How can that be? Japan is importing “virtual water” and not drinking water. Virtual water is an estimate of how much water a country that imports food would need if it were to produce that food instead. For example, it takes 1,800 liters of irrigation water to produce one kilogram of corn. Hence, by importing food from overseas, Japan does not have to use as much of its own water.
Japan’s food self-sufficiency rate is approximately 40%. This means we are consuming a lot of water that was used to produce food outside Japan. Now, you can imagine why problems such as water shortages and water pollution in other countries could affect our lives as well. According to UNICEF, approximately 663 million people do not have access to safe water worldwide. It is estimated that access to safe water could prevent as many as 1.7 million water-related deaths per year. In addition, 800 million people around the world suffer from hunger and malnutrition due to lack of access to water for agriculture. That’s why reducing the use of virtual water in Japan would save many people’s lives internationally.
Many people believe that Japan is rich in water resources. The average rainfall in Japan is about twice as great as that of other countries. Yet, Japan is said to be the largest importer of water. How can that be? Japan is importing “virtual water” and not drinking water. Virtual water is an estimate of how much water a country that imports food would need if it were to produce that food instead. For example, it takes 1,800 liters of irrigation water to produce one kilogram of corn. Hence, by importing food from overseas, Japan does not have to use as much of its own water.
Japan’s food self-sufficiency rate is approximately 40%. This means we are consuming a lot of water that was used to produce food outside Japan. Now, you can imagine why problems such as water shortages and water pollution in other countries could affect our lives as well. According to UNICEF, approximately 663 million people do not have access to safe water worldwide. It is estimated that access to safe water could prevent as many as 1.7 million water-related deaths per year. In addition, 800 million people around the world suffer from hunger and malnutrition due to lack of access to water for agriculture. That’s why reducing the use of virtual water in Japan would save many people’s lives internationally.