Quantitative Research of China Agricultural Virtual Water Trade Based on CROPWAT Model

Abstract

The virtual water trade theory is one of the hot topics in the field of water demand management research today, which is considered as an important method for water resources constraints to ensure food security. And the introduction of the virtual water concept provides a new approach to analyze and study water resources. We used the CLIMWAT crop, meteorological databases and China's actual data to calculate virtual water content of major food crops and food virtual water trade in China's major grain producing areas by CROPWAT8.0 model recommended by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).