5 ms·

Almonds are one thing... we actually need those. The sad part is, most of the agricultural water goes to alfalfa. http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/08/opinion/me

by jqm 12y ago

Almonds are one thing... we actually need those. The sad part is, most of the agricultural water goes to alfalfa. http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/08/opinion/meat-makes-the-planet-thirsty.html?_r=0 http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/08/opinion/meat-makes-the-pla...

mark_l_watson 12y ago
A predominately meat diet uses about 10 times the water and energy to produce. Stop the free water subsidies to big agro businesses, and let the free market price of water affect meat prices.
- masterleep 12y ago
  That's a fantastic idea, but it's far too practical and sensible for California. It doesn't include any feel-good meddling or opportunities for kickbacks for the powerful and connected.
lkbm 12y ago
> Almonds are one thing... we actually need those. Unless I'm missing something major, we "need" almonds for exactly one reason: they're tasty. That exact same "need" exists for meat. Personally, I'm quite happy eating neither, since I'm not a fan of nuts in general. I recognize some people love almonds, and I'm not running around trying to get them banned, but I definitely think, just as with meat, we need to think of these things as choices, not just plain needs.
- jqm 12y ago
  Almonds are extremely nutritious. Ok... maybe "need" is a bit strong, we don't need any specific food item, but my point is, we do need food and that food does require water. Check out page 8 of this pdf.... http://www.cggc.duke.edu/environment/valuechainanalysis/CGGC_CACropsReport_7-4-08 http://www.cggc.duke.edu/environment/valuechainanalysis/CGGC... Nuts do use water in California. Slightly less than rice (at least in 2003, there may be some variations since). The point is... by far the biggest (and most unnecessary) user of agricultural water in California is Alfalfa. (Yes, I know there was a recent Slate article on Almonds. But the amount of water they use pales in comparison to Alfalfa.)
anigbrowl 12y ago
What is it we need almonds for? I like them myself from time to time, but I could live with paying 2x for them if they were scarcer. Raising meat does consume a lot of water, but of course there are many other meat-farming areas in the US so economically it's fairly easy to substitute. It certainly will be next year, as midwestern beef will be quite a bit cheaper following a bumper corn crop this year.
- galago 12y ago
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ogallala_Aquifer http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ogallala_Aquifer
  - anigbrowl 12y ago
    Make a point if you have one. I have better things to do than spend time wondering which of the many different possible points you were trying to make.
- reality_czech 12y ago
  What is it we need almonds for? Macarons. On the other hand, we could always let them eat cake.

by jqm 12y ago

mark_l_watson 12y ago

A predominately meat diet uses about 10 times the water and energy to produce. Stop the free water subsidies to big agro businesses, and let the free market price of water affect meat prices.

masterleep 12y ago
That's a fantastic idea, but it's far too practical and sensible for California. It doesn't include any feel-good meddling or opportunities for kickbacks for the powerful and connected.

lkbm 12y ago

> Almonds are one thing... we actually need those. Unless I'm missing something major, we "need" almonds for exactly one reason: they're tasty. That exact same "need" exists for meat. Personally, I'm quite happy eating neither, since I'm not a fan of nuts in general. I recognize some people love almonds, and I'm not running around trying to get them banned, but I definitely think, just as with meat, we need to think of these things as choices, not just plain needs.

jqm 12y ago
Almonds are extremely nutritious. Ok... maybe "need" is a bit strong, we don't need any specific food item, but my point is, we do need food and that food does require water. Check out page 8 of this pdf.... http://www.cggc.duke.edu/environment/valuechainanalysis/CGGC_CACropsReport_7-4-08 http://www.cggc.duke.edu/environment/valuechainanalysis/CGGC... Nuts do use water in California. Slightly less than rice (at least in 2003, there may be some variations since). The point is... by far the biggest (and most unnecessary) user of agricultural water in California is Alfalfa. (Yes, I know there was a recent Slate article on Almonds. But the amount of water they use pales in comparison to Alfalfa.)

anigbrowl 12y ago

What is it we need almonds for? I like them myself from time to time, but I could live with paying 2x for them if they were scarcer. Raising meat does consume a lot of water, but of course there are many other meat-farming areas in the US so economically it's fairly easy to substitute. It certainly will be next year, as midwestern beef will be quite a bit cheaper following a bumper corn crop this year.

galago 12y ago
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ogallala_Aquifer http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ogallala_Aquifer
- anigbrowl 12y ago
  Make a point if you have one. I have better things to do than spend time wondering which of the many different possible points you were trying to make.
reality_czech 12y ago
What is it we need almonds for? Macarons. On the other hand, we could always let them eat cake.