Editor’s choice
Editor’s choice
New research published by Nature reveals the colossal amount of water used to produce soy and beef in Brazil, and recommends ways to address the risks of water scarcity for global food security.
For the first time, unique data on water and supply chains connected to beef and soy have been mapped by Trase, an initiative of Stockholm Environment Institute and Global Canopy. Today, Trase’s research is published in Communications Earth & Environment (Nature portfolio).
For the first time, exposure of consumer markets to water scarcity risks has been calculated by linking water-use data for beef and soy production at municipality level in Brazil, to specific river basins.
By linking this new data on water use to Trase’s soy and beef supply chain maps, we can provide new insight into the sustainability of the trade in these commodities beyond deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions.
Michael Lathuillière, Senior Research Fellow at Stockholm Environment Institute and Trase.
Trase research estimates that soy production used a total of 1 cubic kilometre of irrigation water per year, while beef production used 10.4 km3/y over the 2015–2017 period. Together, this is equivalent to almost 40% of the capacity of Brazil’s Itaipú reservoir, one of the largest in the country.
Trase’s research also finds that 18% of water use for China’s soy and beef imports from Brazil, and 54% of water use for the EU’s soy and beef imports from Brazil, came from river basins with either high or critical water scarcity. This means that a significant portion of the trade in these commodities is exposed to physical risks due to reduced water availability.
This novel research will also be presented at the international World Water Week in Stockholm on Tuesday 26 August, 16:00-17:30 CEST, in the session Strategic water and climate actions within planetary boundaries. Michael Lathuillière from SEI and Trase will discuss some of the powerful insights being generated by the data.
This novel research marks a breakthrough in understanding and mapping the links between water scarcity and trade dependencies, and opens the door on a new level of transparency on water use in commodity supply chains. Water is the world’s most precious resource, and this transparency is vital to driving much-needed action by companies and governments to act more sustainably.
Toby Gardner, Co-Director of Trase at SEI.
Ylva Rylander, Trase Communications Lead, SEI
[email protected] | +46-73 150 3384 |
Ulrika Lamberth, Senior Press Officer, SEI
[email protected] |+46-73 801 7053 |
Journal article / The study links Brazilian soy and beef exports to China and the EU with river basin water use and scarcity.
Past event / Explore the dynamics of water at the 2025 World Water Week, where experts unite to address water's role in climate action.
Trase is a science-based supply chain transparency initiative, built around an open-access information platform www.trase.earth. Trase is a partnership led by the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) and Global Canopy. It uses a unique approach to mapping agricultural supply chains that combines customs, shipping, tax, logistics and other data to connect regions of production, via trading companies to countries of import.
Global Canopy is a data-driven think tank that targets the market forces destroying nature. We work with partners around the world to mobilise the data needed to make supply chains and finance more transparent and sustainable. Our unique data platforms enable companies, investors and governments to identify their impacts on tropical forests and other vital ecosystems, and to take action accordingly.
Stockholm Environment Institute is an international non-profit research institute that tackles climate, environment and sustainable development challenges.
We empower partners to meet these challenges through cutting-edge research, knowledge, tools and capacity building. Through SEI’s HQ and seven centres around the world, we engage with policy, practice and development action for a sustainable, prosperous future for all.
Feature / Over the past 10 years, Trase has become a globally recognized source of data and intelligence for addressing deforestation in global supply chains.
Perspective / Trase’s co-directors write about the benefits and limitations of Trase data in assisting companies and governments in their efforts to implement the EUDR.
Feature / Forest IQ, developed by SEI, Global Canopy and ZSL, has been named “one to watch” by the Global Good Awards.
