Certainly, let's calculate the water usage and compare it to the price of meat based on the assumption of 52 steaks consumed per year.
Using the estimate of 15,000 liters of water per steak, the total water footprint for 52 steaks would be 780,000 liters (15,000 liters/steak x 52 steaks).
Now, let's consider the price of meat. The cost of meat can vary depending on factors such as the type of meat, quality, region, and market conditions. For the sake of this example, let's assume an average price of $10 per steak.
To calculate the comparison between the water waste and the price of meat, we would multiply the water footprint per steak (15,000 liters) by the number of steaks (52) to get the total water usage (780,000 liters). Then, we can divide the total water usage by the price of a steak ($10) to get an approximate value.
780,000 liters / $10 per steak = 78,000
This calculation suggests that, based on these assumptions, the water waste associated with the production of 52 steaks is equivalent to approximately $78,000.
It's important to note that this calculation is a rough approximation and does not take into account various factors such as economies of scale, production efficiencies, and market dynamics. The price of meat is influenced by a wide range of factors, including production costs, supply and demand, transportation, and processing.
The cost of meat does not solely reflect the water waste associated with its production. It also includes factors such as labor, feed, processing, packaging, marketing, and profit margins.
While water usage is an important consideration in sustainable food production, the price of meat is determined by a multitude of factors beyond just the water footprint.