The water footprint of the EU for different diets

In this paper, the EU28 (EU27 and Croatia) water footprint of consumption (WF_cons) for different diets is analysed: the current diet (REF, period 1996–2005), a healthy diet (DGE), a vegetarian (VEG) and combined (COM) diet. By far the largest fraction of the total WF_cons (4815 lcd) relates to the consumption of edible agricultural goods (84%). The average EU28 diet is characterised by a too high energy intake and a too high ratio of animal to vegetal protein intake. For a healthy diet, the intake of some product groups should be reduced (sugar, crop oils, meat and animal fats) and of other product groups increased (vegetables and fruit). Especially the consumption of animal products accounts for high WF amounts. The three alternative diets result in a substantial reduction (?974 lcd or ?23% for DGE, ?1292 lcd or ?30% for COM, ?1611 lcd or ?38% for VEG) of the WF_cons for agricultural products with respect to the existing situation (REF, 4265 lcd). The reduction in meat intake contributes most to the WF reduction. Each of the specific WF components (green, blue and grey) shows a reduction similar to the observed reduction in the total WF_cons. Regarding the total WF_cons (green, blue and grey WF_cons) as well as the WF_cons without the grey WF component (green + blue WF_cons) for agricultural products, the EU28 shifts from net virtual water (VW) importer for the REF and DGE diets to net exporter for the COM and VEG diets.