Increased biofuel production in the coming decade: to what extent will it affect global freshwater resources?

Abstract

Abstract Irrigated agriculture accounts for 70% of global water withdrawals and therefore contributes substantially to global water scarcity. This article focuses on the impact of the increasing demand for biofuel on global water resources in the coming decade. Based on biofuel production projections for 2008 and 2017, it was estimated that currently around 1% of all water withdrawn for irrigation is used for the production of bio‐ethanol, mainly produced from irrigated sugar cane and maize. In 2017 the amount of water to be withdrawn for biofuel production would increase by 74% if agricultural practices remain the same. It is, however, likely that in 10 years the increase will be less, mainly due to crop diversification in favour of rainfed crop species. Even though globally the amount of water withdrawn for the production of biofuels is modest, locally water scarcity problems may worsen due to irrigation of bio‐ethanol feedstocks. In this context there is reason for concern in countries with fast‐developing economies like India, China, Thailand and South Africa where the growing demand for food and energy causes an increased competition for already scarce water resources. This situation will be aggravated if the projected bio‐ethanol production will come from irrigated sugar cane. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.