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# GRAPHIC: In U.S. food system, crops use most freshwater
- URL: https://www.investigatemidwest.org/graphic-in-u-s-food-system-crops-use-most-freshwater/
- Published: 2021-08-25T13:23:00.000Z
- Updated: 2021-08-25T13:23:00.000Z
- Description: Crops use more than 60% of the water that the food system requires, according to USDA research.
- Author: Sky Chadde, Investigate Midwest
- Tags: Data Harvest, TP::Explainer, freshwater, Water, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-06-18 04:56

Of all the water used in the U.S. economy, the food system requires about a third of it, [according to U.S. Department of Agriculture research](https://www.ers.usda.gov/amber-waves/2021/august/us-food-related-water-use-varies-by-food-category-supply-chain-stage-and-dietary-pattern/?ref=investigatemidwest.org).

The total amount of water needed for the food system has changed from year to year. For instance, in 2012, the latest year the USDA has data, it was 34 trillion gallons. In 1997, it was 39 trillion gallons.

Despite that, though, the percentage of water that different aspects of the food system require have remained steady over the years. And, perhaps unsurprisingly, growing crops requires the most water in the food system.

*Lead photo courtesy Canva.*