A third of the world's countries are currently threatened by water shortages. To ensure everyone's access to clean water, from a global perspective, we need to achieve more efficient water use and avoid over-abstraction from risk areas. We must also ensure that the pollution of water sources is minimised.

Agriculture accounts for about 70 percent of global water use*. Irrigation is an important part. The agricultural sector also affects water resources through leakage of nutrients and plant protection products that can pollute waterways. Through the import and export of food and other agricultural products between different parts of the world, water resources are also moved globally, which can be a problem if the export takes place from water-stressed areas.

Water availability and water use are areas where we continuously increase our knowledge in order to be able to manage long-term risks and opportunities. Swedish farmers have been working for a long time to minimize the risks of leakage and pollution. We also collaborate with other stakeholders to find solutions to common challenges in food production.

*Source: FAO, Aquastat 2012

Most rainwater in the cultivation stage

Knowledge of how different raw materials and their origin affect water resources is a prerequisite for steering development in the right direction. In a study, we have calculated the water footprint of three different type products, which together represent a large part of our production; ideal macaroni, cereal ethanol and kernel wheat flour. As much as 99 percent of the water footprint of analyzed products is in the cultivation stage. In Sweden, however, grain cultivation takes place with ordinary rainwater, which has an insignificant direct impact on the water supply.

The production in Sweden of 1 kg of wheat flour requires a total of about 1,000-1,500 litres of water, the absolute majority in the cultivation stage. The water footprint from growing wheat varies between different countries depending on the climate, cultivation method and irrigation. The global average is about 2,000 litres, of which irrigation (blue water) makes up a large part. Swedish cereal cultivation has a significantly smaller water footprint and is normally only done with ordinary rainwater (green water).

Water use in our own operations

Lantmännen uses approximately 2 million^m3 of water annually in the producing facilities. Most of the water comes from municipal water supply. Follow-up of water consumption and measures to improve the efficiency of water use are carried out on an ongoing basis at the facilities. 

Lantmännen also conducts a risk screening of the water supply in the catchment areas where we have production facilities or workshops. The vast majority of the facilities are located in areas with a low risk of water shortage, however, four have been identified as being located in high-risk areas: A seed plant and a workshop in Sweden, as well as two bakeries in the UK.

Eutrophication in cultivation affects water quality

In the event of a loss of nutrients from agricultural land, the water sources in the catchment area are affected. Lantmännen has been working for a long time to reduce eutrophication by developing and offering services and products for optimized cultivation. Two examples are plant advice and the N-sensor for precise nitrogen fertilisation. We also participate in several collaborations for optimized cultivation, including Cultivation in Balance and Greppa näringen.