Making choices about the food you buy, prepare, and eat can make a difference in our world. In a 2019 report by the United Nations, scientists stated that eating less meat, reducing food waste, and reforming agriculture could slash global emissions, benefiting both our health and the environment.
In the U.S., over 40 percent of the food produced is never eaten. It represents an enormous amount of energy and resources that are required to grow, process, ship and dispose of it all. Each stage involves greenhouse gas emissions, plus water, fertilizer, packaging, and labor. Ultimately, when the food ends up in a landfill, it rots and produces methane, a greenhouse gas. In the first two decades after its release, methane is 84 times more potent than carbon dioxide.
With knowledge, there is power, and understanding the consequences of our actions is the beginning of change. Fortunately, there are more and more options to make healthy choices. Organic farming is on the rise in the U.S. And more companies are bringing to market meatless alternatives to hamburgers, chicken nuggets, and tuna.
These entries hopefully address a variety of issues with some positive solutions. More will be added as time goes on.