Almond trees, particularly the California variety, need a lot of water to survive; in fact, it takes 80 gallons of water to grow a single almond. This makes almonds one of the most water-intensive crops in the world—and the California drought is making it worse.
To help farmers keep producing almonds, the state’s water authorities have been forced to use more groundwater.
There are many reasons why almond milk is bad for the environment.
The main factor is the fact that almonds require a lot of water to grow. Consider the fact that California is currently in the middle of a severe drought. Despite this, the state still grows 99% of the world’s almonds. Obviously, this water is needed elsewhere, and it’s not like almonds are particularly nutritious.
You can get the same amount of magnesium from spinach, and the same amount of iron from lentil soup.
Assessing The Environmental Impact Of Milk Production Is Complex
Milk is undeniably a tasty and nutritious drink that’s been enjoyed in one form or another by humans for thousands of years. But, like other animal products, its production has a negative impact on the environment. How much of one depends on a number of factors.
While using the most sustainable dairy products can’t completely offset the environmental cost of drinking milk, it can reduce that impact.
Raising a cow for milk production is a multi-faceted process that involves a complex set of inputs and outputs to produce a single gallon of milk.
The environmental effects of dairy production are as diverse as the inputs and outputs themselves, with some aspects of the process being beneficial to the environment and others having a negative impact. Utilizing a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) approach to evaluate the environmental impacts of the dairy production process, we can begin to understand how this seemingly simple product has a more complex footprint than we might initially assume.
The Bad Environmental Impact Of Almond Milk Production
When the almond milk craze first swept the nation, people were quick to point out the environmental costs of having to grow and process almonds for almond milk. Now that soy and coconut milk are also popular, we wanted to see how their production compares to the almond industry.
Unfortunately, there isn’t a clear winner. Almonds are an extremely water-intensive crop, and require a great deal of land. Soy, coconut, and almonds all require a great deal of processing, which often isn’t done in the most environmentally-friendly manner.
While none of these milks are perfect, they’re still much better for the planet than cow’s milk, so if you find yourself craving dairy-free milk, go for one of these.
On the surface, almond milk sounds like a great alternative to dairy milk. It’s lower in calories, lactose, and cholesterol than regular milk, and it’s also non-dairy. You may have even heard it touted as a “healthy” alternative to dairy milk.
But it might be time to pump the brakes on the almond milk train, because even though it might seem like a great choice, it’s actually far from environmentally friendly.
The almond milk industry may be the latest craze in the health food industry, but a recent study shows it may actually have a negative impact on the environment. The study, conducted by the University of Waterloo, found that there is a significant amount of land and water used in the production of almonds, resulting in a high carbon footprint.
The researchers also found that despite the fact that almonds are a natural resource, the amount of water used to produce them is about the same as it would be if tofu was produced instead.
The almond industry in California uses 80% of California’s agricultural water supply. The problem with almonds is that they take a lot of water to grow. That means that in order to grow almonds, farmers must divert water from other areas.
That means that other sources of water must be cut off to grow almonds. That means that there isn’t enough water for other crops to grow. That means that other crops have to be cut off to grow almonds.
The almond industry creates a lot of waste. It takes a gallon of water to produce one almond, and the majority of the water used in the California almond industry is from irrigation of farmland.
Almonds are also a common allergen for people, which is why many brands of almond milk are derived from other nuts.
On Water Consumption, Almond Milk Is Bad For The Environment
While almond milk has been on the market for years, it hasn’t been until recently that it has become so popular. Unfortunately, this has led to a spike in demand. The most popular brand, Blue Diamond, grows its almonds on 10,000 acres of California farmland.
However, it isn’t just the quantity that’s a problem, but the quality. Even though the market is valued at $1 billion, it’s still a niche market. While this is terrible for those who love almond milk, it’s even worse for those who are forced to rely on it.
While almond milk does have some health benefits, it is not a good substitute for cow milk. That is because of the water required to produce almond milk is astronomically more than what is required to produce cow milk. According to the documentary (link to documentary), it takes approximately 4 liters of water to produce 1 liter of almond milk.
That is more than 4 times what it takes to produce a liter of dairy milk, which requires only about 1 liter of water. While that number seems high, it does not take into account the environmental impact of producing almond milk in the first place.
Last Words
Almond milk is very popular these days. It is a popular dairy-free alternative for vegans and people who are lactose intolerant, and it is also popular with people who are looking for healthier options. Since the almond milk industry is growing rapidly, people are starting to wonder how it could impact the environment. One of the main concerns is over how many almonds are being used to make almond milk. Some people claim that almonds require more water to grow than other foods. Others argue that almonds take a lot of energy to produce.
