Pete Smith

GHG emissions, water footprints of dietary patterns

Rice-based diets had higher emissions but wheat-based diets used more water, says study.

Rosemary F Green

Edward J M Joy

Francesca Harris

Sutapa Agrawal

Lukasz Aleksandrowicz

Posted on 07 Jun, 2019 10:40 AM

India's food system produces large environmental impacts but these vary by diets. The per capita environmental impacts of diets in India are currently lower than those of many high-income countries due, in part, to habitually low consumption of animal source foods.

As India continues in its nutrition transition, people currently consuming the rice and low diversity pattern will be likely to adopt more diverse diets (Image: Senthil T S K, Wikimedia Commons)

Understanding water footprint of cereals in India

Changes in cereal production practices can contribute to improved efficiency of water use in India.

Posted on 30 Apr, 2019 01:05 PM

India has the highest national freshwater demand globally and 91 percent of our freshwater is used in the agriculture sector. Cereals account for over 50 percent of the dietary water footprint in India and represent a potential opportunity for reducing water use in Indian agriculture.

Cereals and millets at a bazaar in Nizampet, Hyderabad (image: Aditya Madhav, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons)

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