Ecological Network Analysis for Water Embodied in Global Agricultural Products Trade

Abstract

Global agricultural products trade, which is inextricably related with freshwater consumption, has been an important part of international economic network correlated with resource redistribution. This study estimates embodied agricultural freshwater utilization of each countries along the global supply chain based on a multi-regional input-output (MRIO) model. Monetary MRIO for year 2011, containing 188-economy, 26-sector, is conducted to expound global embodied agricultural freshwater use flows as irrigation water requirements of 160 crops in different regions are investigated. Furthermore, ecological network analysis (ENA) is performed to investigate the mutual interactions within economies as well as the dominant economies and pathways for embodied freshwater consumption via agricultural product trade. Results show that, in 20112, several major large developed economies are the decisive drivers of embodied agricultural freshwater utilization globally. The evaluation of the water embodied global agricultural products trade investigates that the embodied water mainly transfers from large developed economies, including USA, Canada, and Russian Federation, to developing regions like India and African Union. And another direction for embodied water flow is from the biggest developing regions China to regions like Korea, European Union, India and Mexico. This paper may provide a new perspective on formulating the global water management strategies.