Food and the Environment

[clieffers]

The food system currently employs over 20 million Americans, which is larger then any other sector of the U.S. economy. People have to eat, right? With food being such an important aspect of our everyday lives, you would think those working in that sector would at least have their basic needs...

[environmentandfood]

Such an important aspect of our food system that is all too often overlooked.  It's not acceptable that the very people who farm, harvest and prepare the food that we all enjoy struggle to put food on their own tables. Furthermore, our treatment of these workers also puts our health at risk- by not providing food industry employee's time off, we are asking them to prepare our food when sick.  Take a minute to think about that and we realize that we have the whole system backwards.  Something must be done!

[thinknboutfoodwaste]

Its nice to see that big businesses are taking their actions into account and changing the way they do things, at the grocery store, restaurants, and food marketing. 

[environmentandfood]

This is wonderful!! Exactly what we need in our society of ever increasing food waste.  Examples are set by the food industry and the their work to reduce food waste will likely influence people's personal behaviors as well. Super neat!

[environmentandfood]

The big debate: Organic vs Convention Farming

Organic vs Conventional agriculture is not only a popular topic these days, but also encompasses a huge field of research.  There are a number of different ways to approach this topic, and one could spend a number of days discussing it.  I would like to focus on the bare basics of the two, and the differences that each have in terms of our environment.

If asked to choose between organic and conventionally grown food, most people would likely say that organic food was "better" for the environment, even if personally they didn't choose to buy organic.  Most people connect Organic with a lack of pesticides, so it makes sense that by using less chemicals, organic farming would have less of an impact on the land. However, it is also important for us to realize that 40% of Earth's surface is used for crop land, the productivity and efficiency of these lands are vital for the health of our planet.  While organic farming requires fewer inputs (thus it is more efficient in terms of inputs vs outputs), a recent study found that organic practices produce 25% less food than conventional methods on the same area of crop land.  This is a significant reduction in food production, however the bold headline isn't all we should focus on. Some organic crops are just as productive as conventional, these include fruits, tomatoes, oilseeds and legumes.  

Organic farming also plays an important role in biodiversity and soil health. One study found that soil under conventional farming practices was about 3-4% organic matter while the organically managed soil contained 5-5.5% organic.  Organic methods that incorporate animal manures and composted residues increase organic matter in the soil, which improves water infiltration, nitrogen cycling and soil microorganisms.   

Obviously the debate between organic and conventional could go on forever, and the controversy isn't fruitless.  The question of whether or not organic is better doesn't have an clear cut answer, in fact much of it has to do with the management of the land.  Proper and knowledgeable management worldwide results in the most productive and efficient crop lands, and these don't necessarily follow the "rules" of conventional vs organic farming.  The most remarkable benefit of organic farming is the ability to replenish and improve soil fertility and stability, a factor that should definitely not be overlooked in this debate.  But, in the long run there is no right or wrong answer, at least not yet. Perhaps as organic methods become more well defined and researched there will be a more significant statistical pull in one direction of this debate.  In the meantime, do some of your own research and decide where you stand on the debate...and let your purchasing decisions reflect your opinion.  

[cambriamcd]

America’s relationship with obesity is one of disdain. The obesity epidemic is growing swiftly, and compromising the quality of life of a significant portion of our nation’s population. A common opinion is to blame the overweight portion of America for this rising pandemic; but, as Sy Mukherjee...

[environmentandfood]

This is really interesting!  I think the author makes an excellent point about access to fresh foods and health status, so many communities around our nation have limited reliable access to fresh food which severely impacts their health status.  I also liked your point about not blaming the overweight population; yes sometimes they may be partly to blame for their outcomes however I think the majority of the time if is going to come about from things outside of their control- their socioeconomic status, their community's resources and their own genetics.  

[environmentandfood]

Fish is considered to be one of the healthiest protein sources, high in omega-3 fatty acids, fish offers consumers many healthful benefits as well as helps to promote cardiovascular health.  However, our current recommendations for consumption far exceed what our fisheries are able to sustainably produce.  

Over three quarters of the our planet is covered by the oceans.  The biodiversity found in our oceans is incomparable to anywhere else, the oceans contain over 80 percent of life on earth. Millions of people around the world depend on the oceans for their livelihoods.

Overfishing can be defined in a number of ways, however it all comes down to catching too much fish for the system to support, which leads to an overall degradation to the oceans.  Overfishing is a non-sustainable use of the oceans.  Around the world, fishing fleets take two to three times the amount of daily catch then what our oceans can sustainably support.  In fact, globally we have the fishing capacity to cover at least four Earths.  

In the most recent SOFIA report published by the Un Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), researchers found that 52% of fish stocks are fully exploited.  This means that they are in imminent dancer of overexploitation and collapse.  Furthermore, over 25% of all the world's fish stocks are overexploited or depleted. 80% of the world's fisheries are either fully to over-exploited or depleted and worldwide about 90% of the stocks of large predatory fish stocks are already gone.  

The number are staggering, but we shouldn't lose hope for the future of our fisheries.  In fact, we can reverse most of the destruction.  In some cases, experts estimate that it may only take a decade to reverse these negative effects (though other situations may take centuries).  As a consumer we can help to manage our fisheries by being informed about not only global fisheries but also local fisheries and the issues they are facing, we can have positive impacts on the fisheries in our own backyard by being informed consumers.  It's also of growing importance that we know what we are eating, choosing fish that have lower environmental impacts are crucial for the health of our fisheries.  Check out this flyer from the Monterey Back Aquarium for the "best" choices for seafood.

Seafood is a wonderful component of our diet, and by no means should we eliminate its presence.  However, we must be cognizant of the effects our seafood choices have not only on the environment and fisheries in our area, but also globally and the impacts overfishing will have on the livelihood and health of millions around the world.  

[clieffers]

Most of us are already aware that consuming high amounts of soda is linked with obesity, but now there is new evidence to suggest that it accelerates the aging process as well. Telomeres are protective units of DNA that cap the ends of chromosomes in cells. Short telomeres are associated with a...

[environmentandfood]

This is crazy!! It's really neat to see all of the new research out there related to our current dietary patterns.  I wonder what will happen next?  Soda has been linked to obesity for some time now but it doesn't appear to have made much of an impact of the public's choices, maybe knowing that this sugar-ladden beverage is aging them as well will make them second guess their daily soda.

[grimmcar-deactivated20141211]

To look at the Westernization of traditional diets per the nutrition transition mentioned in the title, our first step ought to be looking at the elements and defining features of this Western diet.

There was a time when the Western diet did not exist – subsistence farmers and hunters and...

[environmentandfood]

Very interesting to think about the link between a more "Western Diet" and our reliance on energy-saving appliances.  It only makes sense that as we reach for packaged and prepared foods we are also walking less and driving more.  This sense of convenience is so deep-rooted in our society I wonder if we will ever be able to make the shift to a more sustainable lifestyle for both our own health and the health of our environment?

[environmentandfood]

The Edible Backyard

Technology has drastically changed our food system and our access to food.  The average food in the United States travels 1500 miles before reaching the supermarket.  40% of the fruit we consume in the United States is grown overseas. Produce sometimes travels as long as two weeks before arriving at the grocery store, this means it had to be picked before it was ripe making it less fresh and less flavorful.  This incredible journey that our food makes requires a lot of energy inputs; not only does traveling 1500+ miles require a lot of fuel but foods that are produced such a distance from their place of consumption require more packaging- all those plastic crates, plastic bags and cardboard boxes take precious resources to produce.  

Yes, being able to enjoy avocados and mangos year-round is nice.  I too am guilty of buying produce that is out of season and being shipped from the other side of the world.  However, as the discussion over climate change continues it is increasingly important that we consider the impact our food choices are having on our surroundings.  The Local Food movement has become popular in recent years and there are many convincing reasons why we should all start to rely more on the food we can buy locally and in-season then foods that are traveling from thousands of miles away. For starters, locally grown food tastes better.  The crops are picked at their peak and therefore have better flavor then those that must be picked weeks early for transport.  Local foods are higher in nutrients then those that have traveled long distances because food loses nutrients with age.  Local foods support local families and helps to build community.  Locally grown food also preserves open spaces, by supporting local farmers you are advocating to keep farmlands from becoming developed into subdivisions and strip malls, you are keeping the local landscape from being over-developed.  Local farms are generally smaller then their factory alternatives; well-managed farms can conserve fertile soil, protect water sources and sequester carbon from the atmosphere- keeping our local environment one that is conducive for providing habitat for our wildlife and giving us a clean and open landscape to explore.  Finally, supporting local farmers is an investment in our future- it helps to ensure that there will be farms in our communities tomorrow- a vital component for food security.

  Eating locally certainly has its challenges in terms of seasonal availability and quantity, but we don't have to eat 100% local to receive benefits and reduce our "food miles."  Farmer's markets provide a wonderful avenue for finding very fresh, local produce and many communities have these markets year-round, ensuring that you will be able to supplement whatever you have in your home with fresh, ripe and local foods.  

Get creative! Eating seasonally and locally can be a fun and rewarding way to broaden your culinary skills as well as foster relationships with the farmer's in your area.  

[cambriamcd]

A large research study conducted in 1989 on socioeconomic status (SES) and obesity showed the a trend in obesity affecting primarily the wealthy. A more recent study, published in 2003, shows the inaccuracy in this prediction. Although more studies must be conducted to confirm the true nature of...

[environmentandfood]

Very interesting study! Access to healthy and affordable foods should be a right, not a privilege for those who can afford it. Nutrition education is a huge player in this trend and we need to come up with a way to make nutrition knowledge applicable and relevant to everyone!

[environmentandfood]

The Carbon Footprint of Food

Greenhouse Gases (GHG) are a popular headline in the news these days, and our food choices are a large contributor to this excess production of GHG.  In the United States 4.5 million tons of food is wasted every year, about 25% of it being edible food.  Food is wasted in every aspect of the food system, from crops not being picked during harvest, fishing by-catch, damage during transportation, overproduction, and finally consumer waste- food waste means wasted water and wasted energy.  Growing, processing and transporting food all require huge inputs, including fossil-fuels and chemical fertilizers.  Landfills in the United State account for more than 20% of all U.S. methane emissions.

Launched in 2007, Bon Appetite Management Group launched "The Low Carbon Diet Plan," as a company commitment to reducing carbon emissions and also as a public education platform that is celebrated each April on Low Carbon Diet Day.  The company outlines a few strategies for eating a Low Carbon Diet, among the suggestions are: 

~Choose local and seasonal food.  Food that travels via air freight emits thirty times the amount of greenhouse gasses then their counterparts that were transported by boat from the same place.  Be flexible!!  Look for foods that are grown locally, not only will you know that they are fresh and seasonal, but you will also be greatly reducing the food miles which are a major contributor to the carbon emissions in our food system.  

~Cook more!  Cooking will allow you to know exactly what you are consuming, is your fish fresh and local?  Or fresh and shipped form thousands of mile away (the best sushi is flash frozen- so don't knock frozen fish, especially if you live in a state that has no local fishery)?  Cooking allows you to use more whole foods which is lower is packaging and producing, both of which require huge energy inputs.

~Eat less meat.  Living in Montana this a controversial topic, however eliminating meat from the diet just a few days a week will  greatly reduce your diet's carbon footprint.  And when choosing meat, buy meat that is local, we are fortunate to have an excellent supply of local beef and bison in Bozeman that will help to facilitate this.  

The average U.S. household produces 8 tons of GHG per year from their food alone, this is 17% of the worldwide emissions.  What can you do to lesser your impact?

See how some of your favorite foods measure up at:  http://www.eatlowcarbon.org/food-scores/

[foodwaste351]

Do you think it is possible for a person to ride their bicycle across America 4,700 miles, while primarily consuming food that has been discarded by the grocery stores? The answer is YES! In fact a guy by the name of Rob Greenfield has done this exact thing. On his second trip across the country he faces the “Food Waste fiasco,” Head On. He and the volunteers he teamed up with through social medium, throughout numerous cities across the nation where he conducted his research. Were able to collect and give away over $10,000 wroth of edible food, which also feed well over 500 people. This is impressive and depressing all at the same time. If Rob was able to feed over 500 people from dumpster diving. Just imagine the amount of people that could be feed if we completely eliminated the food waste Patrice. This is a real concern when around 50 million of the 317 million Americans are food insecure. Is it that we don’t produce enough food currently? No, since adequate food is produced for 500 million Americans. Predominantly it is industry standard that promotes and causes the pre-consumer waste. Lets stop being so damn picky, and paying attention to what we as a people are communicating to the food producer and distributors. I am inspired by his movement and alarmed that it is more common for a grocery store to throw the food away than to donate it. From fear of being sued or sustaining some sort of backlash from “tainted” food products. Although there is a law that protects grocery stores if and when they donate the food that their consumers are unwilling to purchase, “The Good Samaritan Food Act,” which provides tax wrote offs, allows them to aid in their communities needs, saves food waste from entering the waste stream which correlates to less dumpster fees for the grocery store, a win- win situation. Next time you are out and about take a peek into the grocers dumpster and see what they are tossing, could it go to the food Bank and feed our local people?

[environmentandfood]

Very inspiring journey that Rob Greenfield took!  It's hard to believe that we throw away enough food that is completely edible to feed 500+ people.  I agree that more needs to be done to promote grocery stores and other food establishments to donate their food to organizations that distribute resources to those who need them.  Perhaps a new business idea?  Linking grocers with food banks? 

[environmentandfood]

Mass Production = Mass Pollution

Today's food system has a number of inputs, and sadly also has a huge environmental impact.  One of the biggest pollutants in our food system today comes from factory farming, which a method of mass-producing meat, dairy and eggs.  Not only are these warehouse like conditions inhumane to the animals, but they also pose a serious health risk to humans as well as damage to the environment.

Most food produced for animals is grown using a combination of untreated animal waste and synthetic fertilizers, both of which contain high concentrations of nitrogen, phosphorus and heavy metals.  Though most of these substances generally act to nourish plants, industrial faming overuses them to increase crop yields and the amount that can't be absorbed pollutes the soil and inhibits its ability to retain water and it's overall fertility over time.  U.S. farmers use nearly 750 million pounds of chemicals each year, those that are used to kill insects and weeds end up poisoning the natural ecosystem.  Additionally, as these weeds and insects develop resistance to the pesticides being used a higher concentration is needed which has even more of an impact on the environment.  The residues of these chemicals can be found at every level of the food chain, and becomes more concentrated the higher up the food chain due to bioaccumulation.   This means that humans who consume animal products get the highest dosage of chemicals!

The most common cause of water pollution in the United States is due to excess levels of nitrogen and phosphorus, the main source being fertilizer runoff.  Runoff from synthetic fertilizer and animal waste alike can poison drinking water and aquatic ecosystems which has detrimental effects for both human health and wildlife.  In the Southern U.S., where the majority of chicken factory farms are located, it is estimated that over one-third of all underground wells fall below the EPA's safe drinking water standards for nitrate, a form of nitrogen concentrated in chicken waste.  Pesticide runoff also causes algae blooms that kill fish by depleting the oxygen in the water, this has contributed to hundreds of "dead zones" throughout the world where sea life can't survive.  The largest "dead zone" can be found in the Gulf of Mexico and is between 6,000-7,000 square miles!

Obviously the environmental impacts of our food system are vast and unfortunately our current food system will be a challenge to change in order to produce less pollution.  As consumers we have a large role in the future of food production, the next time you're at the store seek out the products that are sustainably produced- those are the farmers we want to support if we want our environment to have the longevity we all depend on.  

[clieffers]

More people with a low income status consume processed, sodium and sugar laden foods than those with a higher income level, and the highest percentage of low income households are those with young children under three, as the table below shows. A controlled trial took place in the...

[environmentandfood]

 What a great study! Make you wonder why we don't provide more nutrition education in community resource centers.  It would be interesting to see if incorporating nutrition education into the schools would have an impact on food choices at school, and then if those impacts would cascade down into the choices at home too.  

[environmentandfood]

The Doom and Gloom of Bottled Water

While not a conventional "food," bottled water has an immense impact on the environment.  Having grown up walking remote beaches in Alaska I have witnessed firsthand how this trend has tainted some of the most beautiful, diverse and unique landscapes of my childhood. I've seen seals and birds die from ingesting too much plastic, and sadly it's become common knowledge that many areas of the world's oceans have more plastic particles than plankton- bottled water is a big contributing factor.

    The United States in fortunate enough to have a safe municipal water supply in almost every corner of the country.  We live in a country where we can drink the water straight out of our tap and not be worried about getting sick- a luxury 780 million people in this world don't have.  Yet even with this wonderful source of water pouring out of every faucet in our homes, the United States consumes 30 billion bottles of water a year, accounting for 60% of the global consumption (though we make up only 4.5% of the global population).  30 billion bottles a year- thats 1,500 bottles per second and that's only in the United States.  It takes three times the amount of water to manufacture a bottle of water then it does to fill one, and 17 million barrels of oil each year are used to make bottled water.  That's enough oil to fuel 1 million cars for an entire year.  Another way to think of it- imagine 1/4 of each bottle filled with oil- that's how much it took to manufacture your daily drinking water.

Most bottles are made of Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) plastics, which don't biodegrade. Instead these plastics break down into smaller pieces over time, pieces that eventually enter our oceans and our food supply.  We could minimize some of this by recycling our plastic bottles, though unfortunately 80% of them end up in the landfill, that's $1 billion worth of plastic that should be recycled.

Is bottled water actually better for you?  Unless you live in an area with poor drinking water (which in this country isn't very common anymore), you're likely to get the same quality of water by running your tap water through a simple filter.  The industry's three largest companies, Coke (Dasani), Pepsi (Aquafina) and Nestle (Arrowhead), are actually selling filtered tap water. Thats's right, the water you pay $2+ is the same water coming out of your kitchen faucet.  In fact, it could be argued that bottled water is actually worse than tap water because over time the chemicals in the plastic leach into your water and this process is expedited when bottles are left in hot environments such as your car.  Plastic leaches into the water have been linked to reproductive problems and certain types of cancer.  

The next time you go to grab a bottled water at the store I urge you to stop and think.  We are fortunate to live in a country where our water is safe and accessible, a luxury 780 MILLION people live without.  100 million people around the world die each year from pollution related causes, the US consumes resources at an alarming rate, and pollutes in a similar fashion. The world pays our price for over-consumption, do everyone a favor and invest in a reusable water bottle.  

For more information on plastic pollution, check out this short video from National Geographic about the recent "Gyre Expedition," which took a group of scientists and artists to remote beaches in Alaska to evaluate the effects of debris washing out of Pacific Gyres.  

http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com/2013/08/21/filmmakers-document-the-weirdness-of-marine-garbage/

[environmentandfood]

What's to Come...

This blog is intended to raise awareness about the environmental impact of our food system and the small changes we can make to lower our carbon footprint.  Stay tuned for more!