Final answer:
Water used in the production of exported goods and crops is called virtual water. This concept reflects the embedded water in products and signifies the importance of including water trade in resource management and sustainability measures.
Step-by-step explanation:
Water used to grow crops or make goods which are then exported for consumption is called virtual water. This concept encapsulates the amount of water that is embedded in the production of food and goods that are traded internationally.
When we consider the water footprint of a nation, not only do we assess the direct water withdrawals from its domestic sectors—agricultural, industrial, and domestic—but also the water that is invisibly contained within the products it exports. Virtual water trading plays a critical role in global water resource management and highlights the interdependencies between different regions concerning water resources.
For example, a country that exports large volumes of agricultural products, such as grains or meat, is effectively exporting the water that was used to grow or produce these items. This exported virtual water can make up a significant portion of a country's overall water footprint, influencing both local water sustainability and global water distribution.