Water Footprint of Agri-food Products from MENA Countries vs. EU Countries

According to the United Nations (UN), since the 1980s, the global rate of water use has increased by 1% per year, and by 2050, humanity’s water footprint is projected to exceed 30% of current levels. Water security and resource management issues are particularly evident in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. This area (approx. 14,951,232 km2) is generally arid, with more than 355 million people to date. Therefore, the risk of water stress is among the highest in the world. Of great importance to the economies of MENA countries are the exports of agricultural products, which can reach a gross production value per hectare cultivated of $226,000. In 2004, the European Union (EU) launched the European Neighborhood Policy, also with some countries of the MENA region, to promote the stability and economic security of the countries involved, encouraging, in particular, the exchange of agri-food products from and to these countries. Overall, the EU mainly exports beef, cereals, and dairy products and imports fruit, vegetables, and olive oil. Starting from an aggregate analysis of the products most exported from the countries to the EU, the study aims to investigate the water footprint of 1 t of these products. Through an analysis of the literature (Scopus, Google Scholar, Web of Science), the analysis of data available on the FAOSTAT (Food and Agriculture Organization Corporate Statistical Database), and the implementation of the SimaPro software, the study assesses a basket’s water footprint of agri-food products. It highlights that the two main impacting productions in terms of water are avocados, whose production has rapidly increased in the last few years, and dates. To progress towards more sustainable agriculture paths and more responsible uses of natural resources, it could be crucial for water-stressed regions to narrow those productions that contribute to a high level of water discharge.