Earth Day: 13 Things Everyone Can Do in 2013
By
FBWorld Team
On
April 22nd, the world will celebrate Earth Day.
Sustainable food and agriculture systems can play a big role in
preserving the environment by helping to improve soil health,
protecting biodiversity, and mitigating climate change. Earth
Day is a great opportunity for eaters, farmers, and food
businesses to make changes in their diets, shopping habits, and
production practices that will promote sustainable, healthy food
throughout the year.
Agriculture
contributes to some 30 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions.
And the environmental damage brought on by the agricultural sector
poses significant threats to the industry itself. But there's
a better way to produce-and eat-food. "The rise of processed
foods and a push for high yield, single-crop farms, is leading
to not only soil degradation and water scarcity, but also unhealthy
consumers," says Ellen Gustafson, co-founder of Food Tank.
"From
Uganda and India to the United States, farmers are gaining economic
stability and supporting healthy communities through sustainable
agriculture practices," says Danielle Nierenberg, co-founder
of Food Tank. "As eaters, we all can do our part to support
systems that protect both human health and the planet." This
year Food Tank: The Food Think Tank is celebrating
the ways everyone can protect the planet, on Earth Day,
and every day this year. Here are 13 recommendations from Food
Tank for ways to support the future of food, health, and agriculture:
Eat
more colors
The colors of fruits and vegetables are signs of nutritional content.
A richly-colored red tomato has high levels of carotenoids such
as lycopene, which the American Cancer Society reports can help
prevent cancer, as well as heart disease. The relationship between
nutrients and color is also true for other foods. Eggs that have
brightly orange-colored yolks are also high in cancer-fighting
carotenoids, and are more likely to be produced by healthier chickens.
Buy
food with less packaging
Discarded packaging makes up around one-third of all waste in
industrialized countries, with negative impacts on the climate,
and air and water quality. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's
analysis of different packaging for tomatoes found that polyethylene
terephthalate (PET) clamshell packaging increases tomatoes' associated
carbon emissions by 10 percent. The most effective way to limit
the impact of packaging waste is to prevent it. Choosing foods
with less packaging can also be better for our waistlines, since
highly processed foods that are low in nutrients generally use
more packaging than more healthful, less processed options.
Choose
seasonal produce
Earth Day offers a great opportunity to bring more seasonal fruits
and vegetables into diets. Many farmers markets, including the
New York City Greenmarkets, offer guides about which products
are in season. Locally sourced, seasonal products can also be
found at major grocery stores. Another way to get seasonal foods
is to sign up for a weekly CSA, which provides a mix of fresh,
seasonal produce throughout the year. Other programs, such as
Siren Fish Co.'s SeaSA in San Francisco, offer seasonal meats
and seafood.
Get
in touch with agriculture
This time of year, many people are starting to plan vacations.
A great way to skip the crowds, save money, and get both children
and adults in touch with agriculture is to book a farm-stay through
World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF). WWOOF runs
networks in most countries around the world, offering individuals
and families the opportunity to directly support small-scale family
farmers. Participants spend a few days or weeks living with a
host family and helping with tasks around the farm in exchange
for free food and lodging.
Get
creative in the kitchen
Shopping at farmers markets, which often have a wide selection
of less-ordinary produce such as celeriac, sunchokes, or kohlrabi,
can prevent "food ruts" by helping consumers try new
foods. When looking for inspiration, many popular recipe blogs,
such as smitten kitchen, allow users to search by ingredient,
as well as season.. Publications such asDiet for a Small Planet
and the Boston Globe's new Sunday Supper and More e-cookbook series
also offer tips on reusing leftovers to reduce food waste.
Invest
in perennial crops
Perennial plants-plants that grow back every year-tend to hold
water in soil more effectively than annuals and help prevent erosion.
Their extensive roots also allow them to better access nutrients
and water, reducing the need for artificial fertilizer. Researchers
from the University of Illinois found that perennial prairie grasses
are up to four times as water efficient as row crops such as corn
and wheat. The Land Institute works to breed perennial varieties
of corn, wheat, rice, and other annual crops.
Reclaim
abandoned spaces
As populations continue to expand, especially in cities, reclaiming
unused land and buildings for food production can help meet growing
demand. One new model is The Plant, a former meatpacking plant
in Chicago that has been converted into an indoor vertical farm.
The Plant currently runs an aquaponics farm, growing plants without
soil using waste from its man-made tilapia pools. It also offers
shared kitchen space for small businesses, and other services.
Build
local and global food communities
A great way to get involved in food and agriculture issues is
with Slow Food International, an organization with more than 1,300
groups around the world called convivia. These groups support
healthy, sustainable diets and traditional food cultures. In addition
to local initiatives, Slow Foodconvivia also arrange regional
and international events on important food and agriculture issues,
such as Slow Food València's recent conferenceon the influence
of food in health and disease.
DIY
Many Do-It-Yourself (DIY) food projects are easy and fun. Turning
old t-shirts into produce bags to save plastic, starting seeds
in eggshells, which can then be crushed for transplanting into
the soil, and DIY foods such as homemade oat or almond milk can
all add a creative twist to healthy eating and sustainable agriculture.
Plus, they are lots of fun for families.
Cook
in batches and freeze for later
Planning meals in advance can help reduce stress around cooking.
It also helps reduce food waste, which is a big problem in industrialized
countries A great way to reduce waste and make planning easy is
to cook large batches of a single meal, such as soups or curries,
which can be frozen and reused on short notice later in the week.
Preparing large amounts of food at once saves energy during cooking,
while freezing helps prevent nutrient loss in fruits and vegetables.
For those days when there is more time to cook, tools such as
Love Food Hate Waste menu planner shopping list can help organize
grocery trips. Brighten your outlook At the recent Warwick Economics
Summit in February, Warwick University Economics Professor Dr.
Andrew Oswald presented his research on health and happiness,
focusing on the link between happiness and consumption of fruits
and vegetables. His team of researchers found that eating more
fruits and vegetables directly improves a person's mental wellbeing,
separate from other variables such as income level and how much
meat a person ate. This research is supported by a similar studyfrom
the Harvard School of Public Health, which found a link between
patients' blood-level of carotenoids, compounds commonly found
in colorful fruits and vegetables, and their feelings of optimism.
Use crop rotation
Crop rotation is an important way to preserve soil nutrients,
prevent erosion, and protect against crop diseases and pests.
In the central Brazilian state of Mato Grosso, agronomists at
Agro Norte have developed new varieties of rice and dry beans
that are well suited to the region's tropical climate. By incorporating
rice and beans into their yearly harvests, local soybean farmers
can reduce the spread of soybean rust and nematodes, two of the
biggest threats to their crops. The system also improves soil
quality and provides jobs at times when soy and corn are not harvested.
Embrace
conviviality around the table
Talking and laughing while sharing food is a uniquely human experience.
Conviviality, joyful and friendly interaction, is found at markets
and around the dinner table, and it supports healthy relationships
and healthy bodies. The Barilla Center for Food & Nutrition
considers convivial food culture one of the most critical aspects
of food and agriculture, alongside health, hunger alleviation,
and sustainable development.
Researchers
from Cornell University and the University of Minnesota agree,
reporting that the reported benefits of family dinners on children's
mental health and achievement levels depend on engagement with
their parents at these meals. Standing up for the future of people
and the planet is important on Earth Day and every day. This week
is a great chance to work toward making 2013 a year for sustainable
food and agriculture!