By now, it should be no surprise that humans have an impact on the world around us. How we eat plays a critical role in this equation. The truth is agriculture alone accounts for roughly 21% of global greenhouse gas emissions, and our global food systems in total account for 37%. Every meal you eat has the potential to come at a steep carbon cost.
The good news? There is ample room for change. But how do we make this change and choose foods that help prevent long-term environmental damage?
Systemic change is needed on a global scale to truly make the impact our planet needs, but the key to getting this change may be a bit closer to the heart (or should we say stomach?) than you think…
It is no secret that humans love food. It’s why cooking and eating are categorized as one of the essential elements of culture. While types of food and cooking practices differ depending on region, country—even city—it’s a love that is shared amongst all people. And that’s pretty powerful. So powerful, it might just be the key to a solution our planet so desperately needs.
This shared love for food is something we can use to hold one another accountable. If we make sustainability part of our eating culture, we can build the momentum needed to change how we farm from the ground up. But what does this mean? “Sustainability” is a big word with a lot of meanings depending on the context of the conversation. What is sustainable eating?
It starts with cutting down the carbon footprint and resource demands of our food. Knowing where our food comes from is a big start (more on that in the next section!), but so is how the food is produced. When it comes to farming, this looks like:
But what does this mean for you when you’re at the grocery store? Unfortunately, there is not currently a consistent, clear-cut method of identifying sustainably grown and sourced foods. In the meantime, we recommend looking at food labels for one or more of the following terms as these align with at least one principle of sustainable agriculture.
We need transparency about where our food comes from. Where is it being sourced and how long does it take to get to your table? You might be shocked at the mileage a single piece of fruit racks up just to get to you. If your food is coming from far away, this often means more fossil fuel emissions from transportation, more preservatives to make sure it doesn’t go bad while in transit, and a greater overall environmental burden.
When it comes to the food we buy, we need to start asking where it’s coming from and gaining clarity on agricultural practices from the companies and service providers (e.g., restaurants) that serve it. Is it coming from far away? Using unsustainable farming practices? Is it coming from a region that is best suited to grow this crop? (If not, it may be significantly less sustainable than you think–even if it was grown nearby.)
Consider increasing your pride in local food. Shopping at farmers markets and requesting local produce in your favorite stores is a good place to start. You might also consider:
Most of the world is considered to have a temperate climate; this means that foods can be grown much closer to home than they currently are. By increasing our dependency on and love for local food, we can transition away from the current “jet setting” nature of our food systems.
To make the necessary change our environment needs, sustainable agriculture and regenerative farming will need considerable public support. Support farms that use sustainable practices and sellers that buy in-season and support the local economy.
The more we can increase demand for these products, the lower their cost will be to the buyer, and the more funding support will be available for farmers (particularly smaller farmers) to be able to transition to sustainable practices.
Changing how we look at and think about food as a global culture can have an immense impact on how our food is grown and transported, and what we’re willing to accept when it comes to these practices.
Consider where your own food comes from and how you can make simple changes at home to support sustainable food systems. While we, as individuals, may not have the power to implement systemic agricultural change, we absolutely have the power to instigate it.
Let’s start now!
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Regenerative agriculture is the practice of enriching the land through farming and other agricultural practices; an effort that has been led by Indigenous Communities for thousands of years. Rather than stripping the ground of its nutrients, regenerative practices add to the health and strength of the soil and the overall ecosystem. In essence, it’s a decolonization of agriculture. 1“Regenerative Agriculture 101,” Natural Resources Defense Council ≫; “Native Growers Decolonize Regenerative Agriculture,” Green America ≫
Regenerative agriculture, as noted by One Earth, is “a pathway to an abundant and resilient future . . . shifting from the narrative of human dominion to one of healing our relationship with the Earth.” As a result, farms become more resistant to climate-related threats such as drought, flooding, and extreme shifts in temperature.2“Regenerative Agriculture and Food Systems,” One Earth ≫
Sustainable agriculture is the final step toward achieving regenerative agriculture. This is accomplished, in part, through the introduction of practices to improve environmental health, reduce the use of freshwater and harmful pesticides, and improve carbon storage in the soil.