• Ertebolle@kbin.social
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    1 year ago

    In general: bad.

    But the lion’s share of that groundwater is going to agriculture, and much of it specifically to animal feed, so unlike with carbon emissions, this feels like the sort of environmental disaster that market forces are at least going to be somewhat responsive to; less groundwater -> spike in alfalfa prices -> spike in beef prices -> people eat less beef -> people use less groundwater.

    • Kingofthezyx@lemm.ee
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      1 year ago

      Nah, the beef lobbies will just have the government increase subsidies. Obviously corporate profits are more important than the future of the human race.

    • SheeEttin@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Yeah but how long does that take, compared to how long the environmental destruction takes?

      • Ertebolle@kbin.social
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        1 year ago

        It sounds from the article like the environmental destruction has been going on for decades and that it’s already affecting crop output in some places.

          • girlfreddy@sh.itjust.works
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            1 year ago

            California has areas that have sunk 8+ feet. This is because agriculture dug down past the first water table into the second to feed rich, water-hungry crops like almond trees.

            It’s been worrisome for a long time, but bug ag had the ear of the feds so did what it wanted.

    • Franzia@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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      1 year ago

      I thought that groundwater used in beef production exists in the water cycle and actuslly replenishes. Did I fall for a talking point?

      • doggle@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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        1 year ago

        That water would logically enter the typical water cycle, but ground water itself can take a long time to replenish. It seems to depend on the particular source, but in many cases it is functionally non renewable.

        Once pumped out, it will evaporate, rain down, and eventually make its way in to the oceans, I assume. Desalination seems like it will eventually be the solution, but it’s a long way off.