Impact of virtual water export on water resource security associated with the energy and food bases in Northeast China

  • Shibao Lu
  • , Xiao Bai
  • , Jin Zhang*
  • , Jinkai Li
  • , Wei Li
  • , Ji Lin
  • *Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

43 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The production and consumption of grain and energy need physical water resources which causes the virtual water circulation. The recycling of water requires energy, and the food production is associated with the consumption of biomass energy, which competes with the energy production for water. This paper uses the water footprint of food production and Water pressure index corrected to calculate Production and transfer of food and energy in Northeast China. The results show that the energy water footprint of the Northeast region was 4.3 × 108 m3 In 2000, it reached a maximum value of 4.39×108 m3 in 2012, and whereafter the energy water footprint fell to only 3.73×108 m3 in 2015. In Northeast China, more water is embedded in the outflow of food and in the inflow of energy. In 2000, the energy water footprint outflow was 1.54×108 m3, and the energy water footprint inflow in 2015 reached 1.89×108 m3. With the expansion of the food and energy production in Northeast China, water resources stress continues to rise. Except for Liaoning Province, the water resources pressure indices of Heilongjiang Province and Jilin Province are much higher than the national average.

Original languageEnglish
Article number121635
JournalTechnological Forecasting and Social Change
Volume180
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jul 2022
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Grain security
  • Sustainable management of water resources
  • Water footprint
  • Water resources stress
  • Water-food-energy

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