How Can We Feed The Planet In A Sustainable Way?

The population of the earth continues to get larger every year. The good news is that the percentage of people in the world who struggle to feed themselves is lower than ever. The bad news is that there are still more than 800 million people who are at risk of starvation. 

While the issue of hunger has improved with increased agriculture and improved transportation, sustainability has suffered. 

So, how can we feed all of earth’s 8 billion people while keeping our planet healthy? There are three major factors to consider.

Where was the food produced?

Agriculture is one of the major causes of pollution. In fact, A new study says that emissions from farms outweigh all other human sources of fine-particulate air pollution in much of the United States, Europe, Russia and China. 

Most of this pollution comes from fumes from nitrogen-rich fertilizers and animal waste that combine in the air with industrial emissions to form solid particles.

We often think of organically grown food as a more sustainable choice. However, that isn’t always accurate. Organic crops require large amounts of land to produce the same amount of food as conventionally grown food. Also, organic farmers can sometimes overuse or misapply organic pesticides, in which case they aren’t even any healthier for humans than typically grown food. 

Instead of choosing between organic or conventionally grown food, a more sustainable approach is to consider where the food was produced. Buying food from a distance often means that it has traveled to several different locations before reaching your plate. For instance, Norwegian fishing vessels send their catch to China for filleting. Then China ships the processed fish back to Norway. All of these steps require energy and produce emissions. 

What is the food packaged in?

Think twice before purchasing food packaged in plastic. No matter what the packaging says, it’s important to note that less than 10% of plastic actually gets recycled and most ends up in our oceans and landfills. In fact, at the rate at which plastic is accumulating, it’s predicted that, by 2050 there will be more plastic than fish in the world’s oceans. 

For more sustainable options, purchase food in bulk and bring your own reusable bags. 

How much food will be wasted?

Up to 40% of food in the United States is wasted. There are a multitude of reasons for all this waste. Households throw away moldy vegetables, or expired food. Restaurants serve oversize portions and trash leftovers. People are confused by food date labels. Grocery stores overstock their shelves to maintain an image of abundance. Farmers are unable to sell produce that doesn’t look perfect.

95% of wasted food ends up in landfills, where it generates methane, a greenhouse gas that is up to 86 times more powerful than carbon dioxide.

Simple things like being mindful of your food purchases, freezing extra food, and composting organic waste can make a big difference in how much food you waste.

True sustainability occurs when we incorporate earth-friendly practices into our daily life. Being considerate about our food choices can be an important step towards a greener planet where everyone has access to clean air, food, and water.