The water footprint of the growing biofuel sector should be factored into discussions about water security (Nature 467, 555–561; 2010).
The rapid expansion of biofuel crops can significantly affect regional hydrological patterns (B. G. Subhadra Science 329, 1282–1283; 2010). In India, for example, jatropha plants — a biofuel feedstock with a large water footprint (W. Gerbens-Leenes et al. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 106, 10219–10223; 2009) — are increasingly being cultivated in rural areas.
Add to this the rapidly depleting groundwater in northwest India (M. Rodell et al. Nature 460, 999–1002; 2009) and the alarm sounds for prompt policy planning by the government to safeguard India's water resources.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Subhadra, B. Water: biofuels sap supplies. Nature 468, 173 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1038/468173c
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/468173c