Energy for Water in Agriculture: A Partial Factor Productivity Analysis

Water, energy and food are inextricably linked and, consequently, inefficient use of any of the three resources can have a negative effect on the other two. Managing this nexus requires a holistic approach. We compare the productivity of extracted water used for agriculture, and the energy required to withdraw that water, across countries. Agricultural productivity is measured from both an economic (contribution to GDP) and physical (metric tons produced) perspective. Our results offer insights into how water and energy are used by countries for agriculture production and what policies governments could consider for improving the sustainability of water resources.