becoming an environmentally conscious eater

Transcription

1 becoming an environmentally conscious eater

2 What is your food ethic? Do you consider yourself to eat healthy? Do you value local or organic food? How often do your eat meat? Where does your food come from? What motivates you to eat healthy?

3 The Plate Rule ½ : fruits and veggies ½ : proteins and grains Easy on the processed fats and sugars

4 We define a sustainable food and agriculture system as one in which the fertility of our soil is maintained and improved; the availability and quality of water are protected and enhanced; our biodiversity is protected; farmers, farm workers, and all other actors in value chains have livable incomes; the food we eat is affordable and promotes our health; sustainable businesses can thrive; and the flow of energy and the discharge of waste, including greenhouse gas emissions, are within the capacity of the earth to absorb forever. -Sustainable Food Laboratory

5 What do you know? About healthy, sustainable food About organic and local movements About genetically modified food

6 Organic Foods

7 Positives Forbid the use of synthetic fertilizers and synthetic pesticides rely on biological pest control methods (composting, crop rotation, green manuring techniques) Sometimes a vow to stay small

8 Negatives Less yields Higher prices Not necessarily chemical free Feeds less than 2% of world population Limits of scale

9 Genetic Engineering

10 Broad scientific consensus that food derived from GM crops is safe for humans Top GM crops: corn, soy, alfalfa Case by case basis Difficult to understand by public Can have positive environmental impact Higher yields Is it safe?

11 A Council for Agricultural Science and Technology report says biotech soy, corn and cotton have decreased soil erosion by 90 percent, preserving 37 million tons of topsoil. Biotech crops also provide a 70 percent reduction in herbicide runoff and an 85 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

12 The case to eat less meat

13 Around the World 16,000,000,000 Chickens 1,300,000,000 Cattle 1,000,000,000 pigs 500,000,000 turkeys Worldwide, 45 billion chicken are slaughtered per year 23 million in the US alone.

14 Deforestation Cause of land erosion The issues: Air & land Manure lagoons and runoff 1/3 of world s grain goes to animals 13.5 % of global warming emissions come from transportation, 18% from livestock emits carbon dioxide, methane, or nitrous oxide 2/3 of agricultural land is devoted to livestock pasture, 44% of all land in the US

15 The issues: Water 20% water supply towards Industry 10% from household consumption 70% towards agriculture Depletion of aquifers, rivers, and wetlands

16 Meat Packing Factories Positives helps local economy provides jobs Negatives: sometimes inhumane slaughter often attracts underpaid immigrant and refugee workers, but often gives no benefits, no social services, or charitable gifts to the changing communities

17 Alternative Sources of Protein Adult men: 56 grams; Adult women, 46 grams Fish eggs Yogurt, peanut butter Seeds, nuts, beans, legumes Tofu, tempeh, seitan Quinoa (easy to make)

18 is slow but steady

19 What to do!?! Develop a sustainable food ethic Visit the local farmer s market Ask questions about the food that you buy Try fish Eat a meal without meat