Nearly one third of all humanity relies almost exclusively on groundwater for drinking. Two thirds of the world's total water use is for irrigation, and over-pumping of groundwater has caused water tables to drop dangerously all over the world, especially in the western United States. Water shortages will be common in the next century. Already there are 26 countries that have more people than their water supplies can adequately support. Current consumption and agricultural practice will increase this number, as populations increase in areas without adequate water supplies.
New technologies abound in biotech and agribusiness, although few are sustainable.
The public health effects are unknown. One main goal of the biotech companies was to increase the amount of pesticide sprayed on crops without killing them. Another recent biotech innovation is the Terminator Seed, which does not reproduce seeds at the end of the growing season, so farmers have to buy the seeds every year. Another rapid commercialization of technology that is drastically affecting our food supply is the bovine growth hormone given to dairy cows. Although long-term health effects are unknown, BGH is associated with the production of xenoestrogens, which increase the risk of breast cancer and prostate cancer.