It takes 23 gallons of water to produce a pound of lettuce;
25 gallons of water to produce a pound of wheat;
49 gallons to produce a pound of apples;
815 gallons to produce a pound of chicken;
1,630 gallons to produce a pound of pork;
And 5,214 gallons of water to produce just one pound of beef.

David Pimentel, ecologist and Professor Emeritus at Cornell University, USA warns, “With 87% of total water used for livestock production, the United States will soon become a water-stressed country.” Pimentel, “U.S. could feed 800-million people with grain that livestock eat, Cornell ecologist advises animal scientists,” Cornell Science News, August 7, 1997. http://www.news.cornell.edu/releases/aug97/livestock.hrs.html.

In addition, animal industry also accounts for:

· 9% of our carbon dioxide emissions;
· it emits 37% of our methane;
· and a whopping 65% of our nitrous oxide.
· It emits also 64% of all ammonia, which causes acid rain and hydrogen sulfide, a fatal gas

Robert Goodland and Jeff Anhang found that “livestock contributes to 32,564 million tons of GHG annually, which equals 51percent of global GHG emissions.” See their article, “Livestock and Climate Change,” World Watch Magazine, (Nov/ Dec, 2009), 10-19. http://www.worldwatch.org/node/6294.

Be Vegan Make Peace

Your question has generated a lot of interest among some of us here in Hyderabad, India. We are expeiencing serious water shortages, and the worst affected are poor households.

If you have answer(s) to your question, pl let us know. Or, you may recommend any source we could refer.

Thank you.

Prof. P Purushotham
National Institute of Rural Development
Hyderabad
India