Study highlights deepening water scarcity in global breadbasket nations

A study published in Nature on Jan. 28, 2025, reveals worsening water scarcity in key agricultural regions across China, India and the United States. Conducted by researchers from institutions including the University of Delaware, Virginia Tech and Politecnico di Milano, the study examines water demand trends from 1980 to 2015, focusing on irrigation’s role in rising water shortages. 

The research found that blue water demand — surface and groundwater use — has surged in all three nations, with irrigation for major crops such as wheat, rice, maize and alfalfa being the dominant driver. The study highlights a 101% increase in unsustainable water demand in China, 82% in India and 49% in the U.S., noting that many sub-basins experience at least four months of water scarcity annually.