Review of Water Use Assessment in Livestock Production Systems and Supply Chains

Abstract

Improving the water productivity and sustainability of global food supplies and reducing water stress worldwide requires a comprehensive and consistent assessment of water use in global food production systems, including livestock production and supply chains. Presented here is a systematic review of relevant livestock water use studies, published over two periods: “Period 1993–2017” and “Period 2018–2024”, assessing consistency in their approaches and identifying opportunities for advancing and harmonizing the assessment of livestock water use worldwide. However, the review highlights that a comprehensive and consistent assessment of livestock water use remains a challenge. The reviewed studies (a total of 317) differ in terms of their accounting of different water flows, setting the system boundaries, and quantification of water productivity and impact metrics. This makes it difficult to compare potential water productivity and environmental impacts of livestock production systems at different scales and locations. Case studies are required to further develop and implement a robust and consistent methodological approach, based on locally calibrated models and databases, of different livestock production systems in different agroclimatic conditions. Also, further communication and training are required to help build the capability to apply a comprehensive and consistent assessment of livestock water use locally and globally. The adoption of a scientifically robust and practically applicable methodological framework will support researchers, policy managers, farmers, and business leaders in sound decision-making to improve the productivity and sustainability of water use in livestock production systems locally and globally.