A former professor at the Oregon State University, A. Morrie Craig, Ph.D., has extensively researched the effects of grassland toxins on livestock. Dr. Morrie Craig regularly attends the International Grasslands Congress.
In a previous meeting of the International Grasslands Congress, Australian researcher Dr. D.L. Michalk presented the impacts of agriculture and global diets on sustainability. However, one cannot discuss THESE two without mentioning food waste.
Global agricultural processes contribute to one-third of greenhouse emissions, and 30 percent of the food produced is wasted. This wasted food contributes to eight percent of greenhouse emissions. When looking at environmental impacts, it is important to discuss land impacts. For one, land is not only used to farm produce but is also used to feed livestock. The areas that are expected to see an increase are grain and meat production, as global diets are changing requiring production of meat, milk, and produce.
At the core of the discussion is the human impact on grasslands, which cover more of the Earth than other vegetation types. These grasslands are comprised of grasses, woody species, and legumes. However, with increased agriculture, these number of grasslands are dwindling, either because of overgrazing or lack of biodiversity.
On the other end of the sustainability equation is food waste, which is lost or wasted food. This occurs for a variety of reasons including bad weather (ruining crops), overbuying, and processing problems during production, etc.
It also contributes significantly to greenhouse emissions when dumped in landfills. Methane emissions from food waste are 86 times more powerful than carbon dioxide released into the air. Ultimately, other impacts include waste of energy from farm to table, and food waste is believed to be the leading cause of water pollution in the US.
Land impacts and food waste intersect at a point of real concern for sustainability. Vegetation has long been known to reduce greenhouse emissions, but increasing agricultural output and food waste will place pressure on a decreasing landmass and the vegetation that reduces greenhouse gas emissions.
In a previous meeting of the International Grasslands Congress, Australian researcher Dr. D.L. Michalk presented the impacts of agriculture and global diets on sustainability. However, one cannot discuss THESE two without mentioning food waste.
Global agricultural processes contribute to one-third of greenhouse emissions, and 30 percent of the food produced is wasted. This wasted food contributes to eight percent of greenhouse emissions. When looking at environmental impacts, it is important to discuss land impacts. For one, land is not only used to farm produce but is also used to feed livestock. The areas that are expected to see an increase are grain and meat production, as global diets are changing requiring production of meat, milk, and produce.
At the core of the discussion is the human impact on grasslands, which cover more of the Earth than other vegetation types. These grasslands are comprised of grasses, woody species, and legumes. However, with increased agriculture, these number of grasslands are dwindling, either because of overgrazing or lack of biodiversity.
On the other end of the sustainability equation is food waste, which is lost or wasted food. This occurs for a variety of reasons including bad weather (ruining crops), overbuying, and processing problems during production, etc.
It also contributes significantly to greenhouse emissions when dumped in landfills. Methane emissions from food waste are 86 times more powerful than carbon dioxide released into the air. Ultimately, other impacts include waste of energy from farm to table, and food waste is believed to be the leading cause of water pollution in the US.
Land impacts and food waste intersect at a point of real concern for sustainability. Vegetation has long been known to reduce greenhouse emissions, but increasing agricultural output and food waste will place pressure on a decreasing landmass and the vegetation that reduces greenhouse gas emissions.
