Water use of avocado

How much water is needed to grow one kilo avocado? Opinions on this vary widely. Figures range from around 320 liters to about 2,000 liters per kilogram of avocado. The exact number depends on several factors:

• The amount of water an avocado uses depends partly on where it is grown and the yield per hectare.
• What water is included in the calculation? Only rain and/or irrigation water? Or also water needed to dilute wastewater (with pollutants) to acceptable concentrations?
• Whether an avocado is grown organically or not. Organic cultivation involves soil rich in organic matter, which retains more water. An average of 88 liters of water is saved per kilogram of organic avocado.
• Are the pit and peel included in the weight of the avocado, or only the flesh? In the latter case, the required water volume is higher per kilogram.

If we consider only rain and/or irrigation water and include the pit and peel in the weight of the avocado, we arrive at an average water consumption of about 800 liters per kilogram of avocado.

Perspective on water quantity

Whether water use is an environmental issue depends partly on how and where avocados are grown. For example, our avocados from Kenya only use natural water. Irrigation is not necessary because there is sufficient rainfall.

In some areas of Peru, meltwater from the Andes is used for avocado cultivation, so no drinking water is needed.

Compared to other products, the water consumption of an avocado is comparable to that of apples and bananas. Higher than for example potato and cabbages, but much lower than many other foods.

However, considering that avocados will be the second most traded tropical fruit after bananas by 2030, the total amount of water required for all these avocados will have a huge impact. If deforestation is also involved in the cultivation process, reducing the soil's water retention capacity, this has additional consequences! This YouTube video clearly explains the effects of deforestation, soil erosion, and salinization: Landdegradatie: Het effect van ontbossing, overbegrazing, bodemerosie en verzilting

Broader Ecological Fprint

In addition to water consumption, labor conditions, the use of artificial fertilizers and pesticides, and illegal deforestation also play a role in the ecological footprint. This is true not only for the cultivation of avocados but also for other products.

Organic cultivation does not involve the use of artificial fertilizers or pesticides, nor does it take place in illegally deforested areas.

For instance, in Kenya, we collaborate with two cooperatives of farmers, each with a small number of avocado trees. Through Eosta, a Living Wage and a Fairtrade project has been initiated for both cooperatives. This ensures better trading conditions such as a living wage. Which means that workers receive not only a minimum wage but a fair wage that covers expenses such as education, healthcare, and savings for unforeseen circumstances.

Conclusion

A considerable amount of water is used for a kilogram of avocado, approximately 800 liters according to our calculations. However, compared to many other food products, this is not excessively high. Additionally, factors other than water usage also contribute to the ecological footprint of avocados.