Resources
As our world is very globalised today, we can access almost anything from anywhere in the world. However, this has caused us to rely on shipped products, and in western countries has distorted our perceptions of how much we need to eat. Yet, one of the most important things about being food sustainable is buying ingredients which use less resources, namely, water and land.
Water Usage Figures
70% of Freshwater Use Goes to Agriculture
Did you know that 70% of all freshwater consumption by humans goes to agriculture? This is out of the 3% of freshwater that Earth contains. (National Geographic)
we can move towards being able to satisfy our world's growing needs and population rises and competition for resources increases. (World Wildlife Fund)
Find Out More! Here are some great websites you can look at if you want to find out some more about water usage: Sustainable Diets: What You Need to Know in 12 Charts Living Waters: Conserving the Source of Life (PDF) Thirsty Food |
To Satisfy Nutrition, We Need 4.3 m^3 Daily
Accounting for all the water which goes into our food and what we drink, to satisfy our human nutritional needs we need about 4.3 cubic meters of water daily (World Wildlife Fund). That's a lot of water. And as our populations rise, competition for water will increase, so how can we combat straining for H20?
Using Less Water: The Meat Industry
Planting vegetables is great for a lot of reasons, one of which is that growing plant matter over livestock saves water. Plants can be grown for a shorter time, and don't require water on a daily basis to survive and thrive, unlike cows or pigs.
Research shows that plant based foods are less resource intensive than meats, which will allow the human population to stay healthy and hydrated. This relates to cooking! In my recipes, I always try to make them plant based to cut down on the water I use to make the food!
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Plants VS Animals
Land Usage
While both plant matter and animal pastures require land and water, growing meats take up a lot more resources. While plants only require the land they occupy to grow, animals are often fed grains and cereals which are grown in separate fields set aside just for them, which increases the amount of land needed for production. This creates competition between the meat industry and humans, because those grains and cereals as of today could feed another 3.5 billion people! (Global Agriculture)
While both plant matter and animal pastures require land and water, growing meats take up a lot more resources. While plants only require the land they occupy to grow, animals are often fed grains and cereals which are grown in separate fields set aside just for them, which increases the amount of land needed for production. This creates competition between the meat industry and humans, because those grains and cereals as of today could feed another 3.5 billion people! (Global Agriculture)
Emissions
Probably the most sustainability related distinct difference between plants and animals is the difference in impact on the environment that they have. While in growth stages, plants produce virtually no negative environmental emissions, while animals have very high Greenhouse Gas (GHG) outputs (Ranganathan and Waite)! As you can see in the above figures from the World Resources Institute, beef especially creates a huge environmental impact.
Now, I'm not trying to make you go vegetarian with this information, that's everybody's own choice. However, eating a lot of meat does have an effect on our climate, and in most wealthy countries more meat is eaten than is nutritionally required for our bodies. So, to become more sustainable as global human populations rise, we need to eat less meat, and be smart about what varieties of protein we eat (World Cancer Research Fund). In my recipes, there will always be a vegetarian protein option, but if you do want to include meat in a meal, consult the scorecard on the right before going out to buy beef or lamb.
How to Cut Down On Your Emissions? One great way to reduce you GHG emissions, as mentioned above, is to simply eat a plant based diet, and to choose your protein sources carefully. Want Some More Info? Visit a great website by the WCRF to learn why it's better for you and the plant to eat less red meat! Limit Red & Processed Meat |
What's the Big Deal About Food Waste?
So sure, resources have a lot to do with how sustainable food is. But what about the food that's never picked or eaten?
In short, most of it ends up in landfills. Not being given to those who need it, or as animal feed to pigs. Large grocery franchises throw out tonnes of food every day globally just for turnover, especially in the United States. Now this is a backwards system, because landfills are the absolute worst place for food to go!
In short, most of it ends up in landfills. Not being given to those who need it, or as animal feed to pigs. Large grocery franchises throw out tonnes of food every day globally just for turnover, especially in the United States. Now this is a backwards system, because landfills are the absolute worst place for food to go!
A single head of cabbage can take up to
25 years to decompose in a landfill.
Statistic from the documentary, "Wasted! The Story of Food Waste," which you can watch to learn more about this issue, and how to stop it in your own life.
In a landfill, food is decomposing without the presence of oxygen or detrivores, which produces methane, a very strong and harmful GHG gas. Whereas composting food in a healthy oxygenated environment releases nitrogen into the soil below, which enriches the ground with nutrients. This is why food waste matters.
Fast Food Waste Facts
Did you know that we have enough food to solve world hunger, but most of it goes to waste? From the documentary, "Wasted! The Story of Food Waste," here are some fast food waste facts everyone should be aware of.
1/3 of All Food is Wasted 1/3 of all food produced for human consumption is wasted annually
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Food Goes to LandfillsInstead of being composted or redistributed, 90% of all wasted food ends up in landfills to sit
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Crops are Left UnpickedNearly 10 million tons of food annually is left unpicked because it's not "perfect"
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So How Can You Use This Knowledge to Help?
On a large scale, there is an EPA created pyramid of food waste solutions which is from the "Wasted! The Story of Food Waste" documentary, which I'm sure you're sick of reading about by now. But seriously, it is eye opening. So, this pyramid tells you how to redistribute food in such a way which is the most sustainable, going from best on top to the worst on bottom.
Feed hungry people and those who need more food
Use wasted food to feed animals
Convert wasted food into bioenergy
Compost and increase nutrients in the soil
The last resort- Landfill
(Nari Kye)
Use wasted food to feed animals
Convert wasted food into bioenergy
Compost and increase nutrients in the soil
The last resort- Landfill
(Nari Kye)
Of course, not everybody has the resources to abide by this pyramid. How can you help on your own?
Eat more plant matter, more specifically, local and fresh ingredients. Support your local economy, and reduce your resource footprint. Limit the amount of meat you eat, and be smart about your protein. Cook the right amount, and try to waste as little as possible. Using my Sustainability Guidelines you can find on my About page, I create recipes which promote local and fresh eating, which you can make to begin creating sustainable habits in your life.
Eat more plant matter, more specifically, local and fresh ingredients. Support your local economy, and reduce your resource footprint. Limit the amount of meat you eat, and be smart about your protein. Cook the right amount, and try to waste as little as possible. Using my Sustainability Guidelines you can find on my About page, I create recipes which promote local and fresh eating, which you can make to begin creating sustainable habits in your life.
To see the sources I used for my research, visit my Resources Page, or click the "Research Citations" button above.
Last updated on January 13, 2021
Last updated on January 13, 2021