“Gulf countries currently import over 85 per cent of their food… nearly all rice is imported, as is 93 per cent of cereals, 62 per cent of meat and 56 per cent of vegetables. That level of virtual water demand must factor into the regional conversation on sustainability, including food self-sufficiency and food security.” 

-Paul Sullivan comments on the hidden cost of ‘virtual water’ with the amount of water traded virtually through the imports and exports so far this year alone possibly over 1.4 trillion tons. [The National]