ABSTRACT Virtual water refers to the indirect or hidden water embedded in the production of goods and services, making it an important indicator in global water resource assessment. This concept provides countries with limited water resources a beneficial strategy for reducing local water stress by importing water‐intensive products from regions where water is more abundant. Agriculture contributes nearly 90% of the world's virtual water consumption. In water‐scarce nations such as the United Arab Emirates, virtual water trade plays a critical role in overcoming freshwater shortages. India's virtual water export patterns highlight the challenges of groundwater over‐extraction. Understanding virtual water flows supports sustainable planning for food security, environmental protection, and international trade policies. The aim of this review is to analyze the significance, sources, trade implications, and sustainability challenges of virtual water, while highlighting global case studies to support informed water resource management.
Bhowmik et al. (2026) studied this question.