This will seriously undermine the two countries' ability to meet future food and feed demands.

The study was conducted by the CGIAR-supported International Water Management Institute (IWMI) in Sri Lanka.

In many areas where water is already scarce, biofuel production could threaten river and groundwater systems.

Charlotte de Fraiture, an IWMI scientist and lead author of the biofuels study says, “Biofuel production in China and India raises special concerns, because the crops to be used for biofuels—maize in China and sugarcane in India—would rely mainly on irrigation.

“Even without increased biofuel production, water scarcity in these countries will worsen, as rising incomes and growing populations boost food demand.”

India and China have set ambitious goals for biofuel production to curb their rapidly growing appetites for fossil fuel imports.

" Together, they account for almost 70pc of projected worldwide growth in oil demand between now and 2030.

"Yet, the two countries are already struggling to find enough water to grow the food they need.

The survey also found, however, that at the global level, the rush to boost production of ethanol from crops like maize and sugarcane will most likely have only a modest impact on water use and food systems.

The report focuses on the many areas where water is already scarce, with special focus on China and India.

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