# Agricultural Water Infographics This Interactive Looks at California's Drought from Another Angle By Vasiliki Marapas | Published 2015-04-10 | Eco Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/californias-drought References: [refinery29](http://www.refinery29.com/2015/04/85174/california-drought-food-water-infographic?source_utm=feed&utm_medium=rss) & [graphics.latimes](http://graphics.latimes.com/food-water-footprint/) California's drought is crippling and ongoing, prompting a rise in the [conservation efforts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/waste-no-space-campaign) of many eco-conscious individuals. However, this problem is going to need a much bigger fix than being mindful of how long the tap is left running. A whopping 80% of California's water goes towards its [agricultural production](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/agricultural-technology-platforms). This insightful infographic, created by the LA times, illustrates just how much water goes into producing the food on our plates. The average amount of water used per meal? A remarkable 968 gallons. Items such as steak require the most water to produce. Why? The majority of the livestock we consume are raised on [industrial feedlots](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cultivated-meat), where water runs through a less-than-sustainable irrigation system to maintain the animals' grain diet (as opposed to grass). Overall, this infographic offers a new way of assessing California's drought, as well as the production systems we currently use in the agriculture industry. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 2.9/10 - Popularity: 34% | Activity: 46% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Eco](https://www.trendhunter.com/eco) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Conservation Efforts:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop innovative technologies and practices to conserve water in agricultural production, reducing the overall water usage. - **Sustainable Agriculture:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Explore alternative farming techniques that minimize water usage and promote sustainability, such as hydroponics or vertical farming. - **Water Footprint Awareness:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Create educational initiatives and technologies to raise awareness about the significant amount of water required to produce different types of food. ### Who This Affects Most - **Irrigation Systems:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop smart irrigation systems that optimize water usage in agriculture by incorporating sensors and data analytics to determine precise watering needs. - **Food Production:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Invest in research and development of sustainable and efficient food production methods to reduce water consumption and minimize the impact on water resources. - **Technology and Education:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Create technological solutions and educational platforms to promote water conservation practices in the agricultural sector, leveraging data analytics and remote sensing technologies. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Field Irrigation Planning Tools](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/irrigation-planning.md) - [Water-Saving Bathroom Capsules](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bergvattnet.md) - [Water-Activated Book Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/dehydrating-book.md) - [Drought-Awareness Rug Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/dryland-rug.md) - [Sustainably Grown Hydroponic Stawberries](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hydroponic-strawberries.md) - [Urban Food Ecosystems](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/living-sphere.md) - [Farming-Inspired Cocktail Menus](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/agriculture-by-little-red-door.md) - [Plant-Focused LED Lighting Systems](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/led-lighting-systems.md) - [Smart Spirulina Farming Facilities](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/edible-algae-cultivation-facility.md)