To say that food affects the carbon footprint we leave on the planet is an understatement. The majority of greenhouse gas emissions produced by farming are mainly caused by methane from the cattle that is used for various meat and dairy products. Even some things you’d never expect, like fertilizer, cause emissions of nitrous oxide into the atmosphere. Deforestation is also a thing used on farmlands to expand the farm further. There are also things indirectly related to the farm environment that cause greenhouse gas emissions (GGE). The first of those being maintenance of the farm. This includes things like the burning of crop waste and the management of manure. Another indirect source of emissions is the usage of fuel powered vehicles and tools, which release massive amounts of CO2 into the atmosphere. Food storage and waste coincide with each other in this instance; having poor food storage leads to more waste, which means there is a surplus of GGE, and the cycle continues.
So how do we reduce our GGE via food? The solution is honestly easier than most people are willing to admit: being mindful of our food consumption and making sure we don’t waste as much food as we do right now. By only taking what we need, I.e, planning and portioning foods, there’s less chance of excess wastes being produced. Switching out your red meats for more fruits and vegetables can not only give you vital nutrients, they make you feel more full because of the sheer amount of dietary fiber. By reducing our food wastes to only the inedible parts, you can also start a home compost pile, allowing the food waste to break down naturally to become a fertilizer for your yard/garden.
Doing this will, hopefully, prevent rising GGE by creating a more sustainable way to produce and consume food products. Being mindful about what factors in the food production produces the most GGE and the alternatives to red meat and dairy products. Another thing, by reducing the amount of red meat consumed, we can also hope to gain back the forest-land that’s being cleared out to make room for more pastures. Not only combatting the amount of GGE from the cattle, but also allowing the natural ecosystem to help replenish the amount of oxygen in the atmosphere.
If all of humanity is willing to put in the effort, I have no doubt in my brain that this is a logical step towards the future. We just need to be willing to do better. Not just for us, but for our future.
(United Nations).