Crop production in Europe became less water intensive

 According to the European environment agency the crop production in Europe became 12% less water intensive between 2005 and 2016. The total water input to crops under rainfed and irrigated conditions for each unit of gross value added generated from crop production, excluding subsidies, decreased from 5 m3 to 4.4 m3 over the period.

Western Europe demonstrated the lowest water intensity of crop production over the period, with 3.5 m3 of total water input for each unit of gross value added generated. However, there was no significant change in the trend between 2005 and 2016.

In eastern Europe, crop production became 31 % less water intensive between 2005 and 2016. The total water input to crops fell from 7.3 m3 to 5.0 m3 for each unit of gross value added generated over the period.

Crop production also became 13 % and 11% less water intensive in northern Europe and southern Europe, respectively between 2005 and 2016. In northern Europe, total water input to crops fell from 11.2 m3 to 9.7 m3 over the period, while in southern Europe it fell from 4.2 m3 to 3.8 m3.