Could Cape Town residents save water by giving up meat?
Separating a South African from their meat is a tough ask. But these are desperate times in the Cape
Research carried out following South Africa's driest year on record in 2016 seems to spell bad news for all the carnivores of the Cape, in the fight to save water.
Producing meat for human consumption takes up a hell of a lot of water. Figures produced by Water Foot Print suggest that the largest portion of water used in food production comes from the meat industry.
Will eating vegetarian help save water?
These results were shared by Brett Thompson last year. He's a writer for Climate Reality, and his provoking think-piece has been doing the rounds again as Cape Town lurches towards the dreaded reality of day zero. He makes the argument that trading a meat for its veggie alternative has an enormous effect on water usage:
"By reducing and ultimately eliminating animal products from your diet you will play a large role in freeing up more water resources for agricultural use. Switching from a beef burger to a veggie burger can save thousands of litres of water. In fact, just one day off meat for a year equates to nearly 45 000 litres of water saved."
How much water can you save by not eating meat?
Water Foot Print's findings were put into a diagram, and exhibited just how many litres it takes to produce one kilogram of meat. The findings aren't like anything you could imagine…
This research was based on the work carried out by Mekonnen and Hoekstra back in 2010, who analysed how much water it took to produce a kilogram of each food product:
What problems are caused by giving up meat?
Giving up meat would indeed have the potential to save water. But that would only create other economical problems. That's argued by the other side of the debate. A drastic withdrawal of meat production would devastate an already depleted farming community. And they are relying on this industry more than ever before.
Perhaps it should never come to this stage, though. Ordinary citizens and agricultural workers considering sweeping lifestyle changes because of government failings. Once again, the people of South Africa are left to deal with a mess caused by the people elected to serve them.
Tags: Cape TownDroughtmeatwater crisis