The water, energy, and land footprint of tilapia aquaculture in mexico, a comparison of the footprints of fish and meat

In the food-energy-water (FEW) nexus, livestock has a dominant place. It is generally considered as water, energy and land-intensive. Aquaculture could provide additional animal protein contribute to meeting food demand. However, aquaculture requires natural resources causes freshwater pollution due aquafeed, fertilizer, hormone use. This study assesses sustainability of using indicators water footprint (WF), (EF) land (LF), comparing results with livestock. uses extensive, semi-intensive intensive Tilapia in Mexico case including broodstock, breeding, fattening, processing, transportation phases. production largest footprints. Blue WFs are smallest systems; green WFs, EFs LFs for extensive systems. For protein, tilapia from systems WF (126 l/g protein), beef (51 l/g), pork (33 l/g) poultry (14 have smaller WFs. per unit or nutritional fall range values beef, pork. (m2/kg) larger than but Per similar From FEW nexus perspective, it not more sustainable replace Tilapia. pollutes amounts water. land, better choice, because footprints comparable.