Our Environmenta

l Responsibilitie

sUnit 4

WILT: Explore sustainable methods of food

production

Understand how the choices we make affect the environment

Explore local programs that help reduce the environmental impact on the food system

Rights & Responsibilities

We, as humans, have the right to nutritious food

However, with that right, comes responsibilities

1. People have the responsibility to the environment, to ensure that air, water, and soil stay healthy for the plants and animals that depend on these resources and for future generations

2. People have the responsibility to other people, to ensure that everyone is able to access nutritious food and can afford food that is available to them

3. People have a responsibility to those who produce the food, to ensure that they are paid fairly for their work

When people honour these three responsibilities, they are helping to build a sustainable food system – techniques of growing, producing and transporting food that meet today’s needs and protect the needs of future generations and the environment

Environmental Sustainability

Chemicals Used in Agriculture

Two big categories of chemicals used in farming are fertilizers and pesticides

Fertilizers are chemical or natural substances that are added to soil to increase the nutrients it provides to crops and increase production Fertilizers contain forms of nitrogen & phosphorus and when

the excess nutrients run off into storm drains or drainage ditches that feed into rivers and streams – these chemicals can kill aquatic plants and other organisms

Pesticides are used to kill pests that threaten crops Excessive use of chemical pesticides can harm human

health, contaminate soil, water and air, kill pollinators and other beneficial insects

Agriculture with Fewer Chemicals

Mechanical Controls – includes tilling the soil lightly to kill weeds and catching insects pests in traps

Cultural Controls – includes rotating crops and planting cover crops. Cover crops are not old, but they enhance the soil, prevent erosion, and provide other benefits

Biological Controls – include using natural predators such as ladybugs and predatory wasps, releasing sterile insects, and using pheromone traps to interfere with mating

Chemical Controls – include improving soil diagnostic techniques to allow for more strategic and conservative use of fertilizers, chemical herbicides, and chemical pesticides when they must be used

Organic Agriculture – farming practices that do not use petroleum-based, synthetic chemicals

What Makes Something Organic?

In 2009 the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) developed national standards to determine what foods could be labelled organic

For fruits, vegetables, diary products, meat, and processed food to be recognized as organic, they must be grown using only allowed fertilizers, and animals must be raised in as natural an environment as possible

Organic Food cannot be produced with genetically modified crops or synthetic pesticides that are prohibited by the National Organic Standards.

Using Fossil Fuels The food system depends on energy from

fossil fuels – oil, coal, and natural gas

Fossil fuels are used to manufacture fertilizers and pesticides, to operate farm equipment, and to transport food from where it is grown to where it is processed, packaged, distributed, and sold to consumers

Fossil fuels take THOUSANDS of years to renew and we are currently using them much more quickly than they can be replaced

Global Warming and Climate Change

The Earth’s temperature has been rising since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution in the 1750s and 1800s

Global Warming is due to the increase in greenhouse gases that are trapped in the Earth’s atmosphere

Global warming and climate changed are caused by human activity such as burning fossil fuels and releasing carbon dioxide, raising livestock that produce methane, and using nitrogen-based fertilizers that release nitrogen oxide

Reducing Carbon Emissions

Agricultural workers have developed strategies to lower carbon emissions and can be put into 2 categories: 1. Reduce emissions of carbon and other

greenhouse gases by using more fuel-efficient machinery or methods and using alternative fuels like biofuel or biogas

2. Other strategies help remove carbon from the atmosphere, such as using no-till farming

Using Land for Agriculture

These are some of the concerns and issues with using land for agriculture Topsoil takes 100 years to replace 2.5 inches

Monoculture (only growing one crop continuously) can result in soil depletion and reliance on fossil fuels, chemical fertilizers and pesticides

When land is over cultivated and left exposed, or when a drought occurs, the topsoil can be below away by the wind – this leaves exposed, dry and infertile landscapes

In the early 1970s, BC designated good quality farmland in the province as an Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) to preserve farmland in BC from other forms of development

Using Water for Agriculture

In Canada, we are very fortunate to have access to many different sources of water – there are many countries that have a water shortage

To help determine how much water it takes to grow a crop, the Water Footprint Network classifies water as blue, green or grey Blue Water – fresh surface water and ground water

such as the water in lakes and rivers

Green Water: The precipitation on land that does not run off or recharge the ground water – it is stored in soil temporarily

Grey Water: polluted water that has been used in production of a food through the entire food system

Using Water for Agriculture

By combining these 3 classifications of water, the number of litres of water required to produce one kilogram of food can be determined: 196 litres of water to produce one egg (79% green, 7%

blue, 13% grey)

214 litres of water to produce one kilogram of potatoes (50% green, 30% blue, 20% grey)

790 litres of water to produce one banana (84% green, 12% blue, 4% grey

Farmers are using techniques like growing crops that stay healthy in dry conditions or monitoring the moisture in the soil more closely or using more efficient forms of irrigation (reusing water), to conserve water

Agriculture & Biodiversity

Biodiversity refers to the total diversity of all life in a given place

Three main factors seem to be responsible for the declining genetic diversity of crops and livestock Destruction of original habitats

Preferences for certain varieties and breeds

The development of genetically uniform breeds

Genetic modification is when they alter the characteristics of plants – they sell the profitable ones and abandon the rest

Maintaining Our Biodiversity

Preserving Seed Diversity Seed Bank– a facility used to store seeds of various crops and

wild plants

Seed Exchanges – allow people to learn more about seed saving and biodiversity conservation

Treatment of Animals Preventing and treating disease and injury

Preventing pain and distress

Providing diets and living conditions that suit the animals needs

Economic and Social Sustainability Making sure that people can earn a living and support a

family by operating a farm

Stage in the Food System

Negative Environmental Effects

Growing the Food Soil lossRelease of greenhouse gases, waste water and organic wastesHabitat and biodiversity loss

Transporting the Food Release of greenhouse gasesUse of non-renewable resources (fuel)

Processing and Packaging the Food

Release of waste water and greenhouse gasesOver-packagingDisposal of waste

Distributing and selling food Release of greenhouse gasesDisposal of food and packaging wastes

Cooking, eating, and cleaning up

Disposal of food and packaging wastes

Negative Environmental Effects of Producing Food

So What Can We Do? Shop at store within walking or biking distance

Buy food from a local farmer’s market

Choose restaurants and food outlets that are committed to using local ingredients

Take home any leftovers and keep them for your next meal

Bring your own reusable shopping bags to reduce waste

Making a shopping list in advance so you can buy only what you need

Choose locally grown vegetables and fruits

Eat less meat - have a vegetarian meal at least once a week

Store food properly so it does not go to waste

Prepare your own food at home as often as possible