We use far more water than we realize–for example, a pair of jeans cost 11,000 litres of water to produce. This “hidden” or “virtual” water is invisible to most of us, which is why the Water Footprint Network in the Netherlands is researching the “water footprints” of the things we buy, “to try and make that link between production and consumption, and to help people understand how their choices impact global water supplies,” says Professor Arjen Hoesktra, creator of the water footprint concept. “There are lots of things that people can do, but in the end we are really talking about food,” he says. Around 86 percent of world water use goes to crop production, and what we eat accounts for about 70 percent of the average person’s water footprint.

Wondering how much water it takes to produce the food you consume every day? Here’s what goes into your daily bread...