Growing Plant-Based Protein.
While almond trees use around the same amount of water as other fruit and nut trees, plants require more energy, and thus more water, to create protein than sugars6. So although nuts need more water than most fruits and vegetables, they are also rich in essential nutrients, good fats and protein.
What’s more, the water used to grow almonds also grows hulls, shells, and trees - items that feed dairy cows, provide livestock bedding and create oxygen and capture carbon. Unlike other foods that can leave behind pits, peels and rinds, with almonds nothing goes to waste.
The almonds we grow can be used to produce a wide variety of products, with one popular option being almond milk, a dairy-free alternative to cow’s milk. Whilst all popular plant-based milks use different amounts of water, there's more to consider than just water when it comes to environmental impacts. A University of Oxford study that examined the environmental impact of various plant-based milks also considers land use and greenhouse gas emissions – two areas where almonds win7. What’s more, it’s also important to consider the different nutritional values each milk offers. Almond milk can offer a low calorie and low sugar option, when unsweetened, compared to dairy milk and other plant-based products.