Animal Agriculture and Water Use: Welfare Implications of a Resource Crisis

Animal agriculture is a major consumer of freshwater globally. Water scarcity caused by agricultural overuse affects both human communities and wildlife dependent on the same water sources.

Key Facts

Animal agriculture accounts for approximately 70% of freshwater withdrawals globally in some estimates
Producing one kilogram of beef requires approximately 15,000 litres of water on average
Almonds and avocados also have high water footprints but produce no animal welfare harm in their production
Aquifer depletion in the US Great Plains and other agricultural regions is driven substantially by livestock watering and feed crop irrigation
Reduced river flows from agricultural water extraction harm fish populations and aquatic biodiversity
Shifting to plant-based diets reduces agricultural water footprint by 50-70% for equivalent nutritional value

Welfare Considerations

Water scarcity caused by agricultural overuse creates welfare harm for wildlife dependent on freshwater systems. Reduced river flows deprive fish and other aquatic animals of habitat, reduce dissolved oxygen, and increase water temperatures beyond species tolerance limits. Wetland loss from drainage and water diversion removes habitat for diverse wildlife communities. These are not merely environmental abstractions but direct welfare consequences for billions of aquatic and semi-aquatic animals. The connection between dietary choices and water use makes this another dimension of the welfare case for plant-rich diets that extends beyond the direct welfare of farmed animals.

What You Can Do

Reduce consumption of water-intensive animal products especially beef and dairy as a welfare and environmental action
Support water-efficient farming practices through purchasing from certified sustainable sources
Advocate for water use accounting in food sustainability standards and environmental reporting
Engage with water management authorities about the impacts of agricultural water extraction on aquatic wildlife welfare
Support wetland restoration programmes that recover aquatic and semi-aquatic wildlife habitat