HGCA have published a Water Footprint Guide to Cereals and Oilseeds which was developed with Collison and Associates to guide their investment in applied research on water resources.
Cereal and oilseed yields are dependent on water supply and whilst typically over 99% of the cereal area is not irrigated the pattern of rainfall in the season and soil water availability have a major impact on yield and grain quality. With some of the most water efficient production anywhere in the world, UK production of cereals and oilseeds has a lower water footprint than imports and if UK production were to decline the impact of UK food consumption on the global environment would increase.
As large users of land, cereals and oilseeds are also contributors to the loss of soil, nutrients and pesticides into the water environment, although on a per hectare basis their impact is relatively modest. The guide also outlines the substantial progress the industry has already made to reduce the pressures it creates in the environment by reducing nutrient and pesticide usage and losses and sets out areas in which further action is needed.
The guide is available to download at: http://www.hgca.com/media/5439/LR_HGCA_Water_Roadmap_2013.pdf