virtual water

virtual water
(VUR.choo.ul waw.tur)
n.
The water used to produce the goods that a country imports; the water that a country would require to produce domestically the goods that it imports.
Example Citation:
People in Japan have an abundance of safe drinking water, so they may find it difficult to think of water problems as something close to home, but their way of life has global implications, according to PFW's Kanda.
"Because Japan depends on imports for about 60 percent of its food supply and 80 percent of its wood products, it can be said that it is actually a major water consumer," Kanda said, referring to studies on "virtual water," a concept that takes into account the amount of water that would be needed to produce goods domestically that a country imports.
According to research by Taikan Oki, an associate professor at the Research Institute for Humanity and Nature, Japan imported 60 billion tons of virtual water in 2000.
— Asako Murakami, "Flood of opinions solicited for water forum," The Japan Times, March 1, 2003
Earliest Citation:
It makes no economic sense for countries that depend on irrigation to grow low-value food with high water needs. The value of the water used for irrigating wheat, sugar or rice can end up being many times greater than the value of the produce: there is no way that these crops can compete with food staples grown in countries where the water rains down free from the heavens.
But switching crops is only a start. Some experts now call for more fundamental changes in the Middle East's rural life. Professor J.A. Allan, a specialist from London's School of Oriental and African Studies who has done his sums, argues that water-short countries can best help themselves by importing cheap food grown with cheap water: instead of using their scarce and costly water to grow their own food, they can get "virtual" water through world trade. It costs them less, and their water resources can be better used: the water that provides the livelihood of one farming family can keep ten non-farming families going.
— "As thick as blood. Water in the Middle East," The Economist, December 23, 1995
Related Words: Categories:

New words. 2013.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Virtual water — (also known as embedded water, embodied water, or hidden water) refers, in the context of trade, to the water used in the production of a good or service. For instance, it takes 1,300 cubic meters of water on average to produce one metric tonne… …   Wikipedia

  • virtual water — /ˈvɜtʃuəl wɔtə/ (say verchoohuhl wawtuh) noun water which is used in the production of a good or a service, as in the production of food, and in industrial processes such as the manufacture of textiles. Also, embedded water. {coined in the early… …  

  • Water conflict — Water war redirects here. For the type of mock combat, see Water fight. Water conflict is a term describing a conflict between countries, states, or groups over an access to water resources.[1][2][3] The United Nations recognizes that water… …   Wikipedia

  • Water management — is the practices of planning, developing, distribution and optimum utilizing of water resources under defined water polices and regulations. It may mean:* management of water treatment of drinking water, industrial water, sewage or wastewater *… …   Wikipedia

  • Water use — can mean the amount of water used for a given task or for the production of a given quantity of some product or crop. In light of the water shortages in various parts of the world, it is important to consider water use and water efficiency. See… …   Wikipedia

  • Water footprint — The water footprint is an indicator of water use that includes both direct and indirect water use of a consumer or producer. The water footprint of an individual, community or business is defined as the total volume of freshwater that is used to… …   Wikipedia

  • Water — This article is about general aspects of water. For a detailed discussion of its properties, see Properties of water. For other uses, see Water (disambiguation) …   Wikipedia

  • Water resources — A natural wetland Water resources are sources of water that are useful or potentially useful. Uses of water include agricultural, industrial …   Wikipedia

  • Virtual team — A Virtual Team mdash; also known as a Geographically Dispersed Team (GDT) mdash; is a group of individuals who work across time, space, and organizational boundaries with links strengthened by webs of communication technology. They have… …   Wikipedia

  • virtual Friday — n. The last non Friday before a long weekend. Example Citation: The forint opened marginally weaker at 1.90 1.95pc points above the mid point of the intervention band on Thursday. Volumes were low on this virtual Friday before the three day… …   New words

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”