Food Waste Impact on Greenhouse Gases: A National Perspective

Slide 1.mp3 Food Waste Contribution to Food Waste Contribution to GreenHouse Gases on a National GreenHouse Gases on a National Level Level Green Tree Peas

Slide 2.mp3 Food Waste and Greenhouse Gases Food Waste and Greenhouse Gases What is food waste? What is food waste? Food that is fit and able to be consumed but instead is disregarded at different phases What are Greenhouse Gases? What are Greenhouse Gases? Gases in the atmosphere that trap heat How long does it stay in the atmosphere? How long does it stay in the atmosphere? Greenhouse Gases can last for a couple to thousands of years in the atmosphere How does it affect the environment? How does it affect the environment? Greenhouse Gases (GHGs) traps heat that contributes to air pollution

slide 3.mp3 The History of Food Waste The History of Food Waste American Fat Salvage Committee campaigned for citizens to save and donate fat generated in cooking (1942) Campaign Video In 1917 Food Administration was developed to control food production and distribution WW1 Poster from 1917 Meatless Tuesdays and Wheatless Wednesdays were created/individuals were prompted to eat fresh fruits and vegetables Low prices after World War II leads to greater food waste and out of sight, out of mind mentality of disposal (1950) Effective as consumption was cut by 15% in America (1918-1919) The Big Waste aired January 2009 on Food Network. Federal Emergency Relief Admin granted 75$ Mil for farmers to have revenue continue to continue farming (1933) - Great Depression Solution: Preserve food waste by eating the foods at home rather than letting them waste (2018)

Slide 4.mp3.mp3 Contribution to GreenHouse Gases Nationally Contribution to GreenHouse Gases Nationally Food waste is responsible for Food waste is responsible for 135 million tons of greenhouse 135 million tons of greenhouse gasses yearly and 1.5% of gasses yearly and 1.5% of greenhouse gas emissions greenhouse gas emissions globally globally Fossil Fuels emit greenhouse Fossil Fuels emit greenhouse gasses. This is typically through gasses. This is typically through food processing, transporting, food processing, transporting, growth, consumption, and even growth, consumption, and even disposal of foods disposal of foods Food waste that is sent to Food waste that is sent to landfills breaks down turning into landfills breaks down turning into methane (CH methane (CH is about 11 is about 11- -16% of greenhouse gases) greenhouse gases) 16% of Food waste causes the emission Food waste causes the emission of nitrous oxide (which of nitrous oxide (which accounts for about 7% of accounts for about 7% of greenhouse gasses) greenhouse gasses) - N N2 2O traps heat O traps heat /absorbs radiation /absorbs radiation Food waste generates Food waste generates equivalent to 32.6 million equivalent to 32.6 million cars worth of greenhouse gas cars worth of greenhouse gas emissions emissions

Slide 5.mp3 Contribution to Climate Change Contribution to Climate Change FOOD WASTE FOOD WASTE FARMING FARMING Food waste ends up in landfills that turns to methane Food systems emissions from land use and crop production adds on to 37% of annual emissions NITROGEN LOSS NITROGEN LOSS GREENHOUSE GREENHOUSE GASES GASES GHGs contributes to air pollution, extreme weather, food supply disruption and increase of wildfires Fertilizers, erosion and farming equipment attributes to nitrogen loss

Causes of This Issue Causes of This Issue My Audio Recording 2022-11-13 PM 8-31-29.mp3 Food Disposal Food Systems Farming Techniques Over production Agricultural farming causes irrigation problems, soil degradation, nitrogen and biodiversity loss Food surplus decays on landfills that affects nitrogen pollution and cause dead zones Machinery used to dispose of food waste releases methane into the air Production of GHGs that leads to pollution of rivers and oceans

Possible solutions Possible Solutions To This Issue Possible Solutions To This Issue Without a plan or when hungry, going to the supermarket can result in us Without a plan or when hungry, going to the supermarket can result in us buying more than we need. Prepare your grocery list in advance to prevent buying more than we need. Prepare your grocery list in advance to prevent impulsive purchases and keep your kitchen organized. impulsive purchases and keep your kitchen organized. Buy only what you need Buy only what you need Frozen foods are edible for a lot longer. You may significantly increase the shelf Frozen foods are edible for a lot longer. You may significantly increase the shelf life of seafood by purchasing it frozen. A wonderful approach to prevent having to life of seafood by purchasing it frozen. A wonderful approach to prevent having to throw away food is to cook and freeze it, especially vegetables, before it goes bad. throw away food is to cook and freeze it, especially vegetables, before it goes bad. Use your freezer Use your freezer Before you shop, use food you already have. You can look online to search for Before you shop, use food you already have. You can look online to search for recipes based on ingredients already in your kitchen. recipes based on ingredients already in your kitchen. Be creative with leftovers Be creative with leftovers Try using your wilting, browning, or imperfect produce to make sweet smoothies, Try using your wilting, browning, or imperfect produce to make sweet smoothies, bread, jams, sauces, or soup stocks. bread, jams, sauces, or soup stocks. Blend, Bake, or Boil Blend, Bake, or Boil ReFED claims that raising consumer knowledge of food waste could avert 7.41 ReFED claims that raising consumer knowledge of food waste could avert 7.41 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions, therefore raising awareness is a good million tons of greenhouse gas emissions, therefore raising awareness is a good starting step. starting step. Talk it up Talk it up

Works Cited Global Methane Pledge: Homepage, https://www.globalmethanepledge.org/. Bridle, S. L. Food and Climate Change Without the Hot Air: Change Your Diet: the Easiest Way to Help Save the Planet. UIT Cambridge, 2020. Buzby, Jean. Food Waste and its Links to Greenhouse Gases and Climate Change. USDA, 24 January 2022, https://www.usda.gov/media/blog/2022/01/24/food-waste-and-its-links-greenhouse-gases-and-climate-change. Food Waste, the environment + Climate Change | Food Matters Action Kit. Commission for Environmental Cooperation, http://www.cec.org/flwy/food-waste-climate-change/. Food Waste, the environment + Climate Change | Food Matters Action Kit. Commission for Environmental Cooperation, http://www.cec.org/flwy/food-waste-climate-change/. From Farm to Kitchen: The Environmental Impacts of U.S. Food Waste. EPA, 1 November 2021, https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2021-11/from-farm-to-kitchen-the-environmental-impacts-of-u.s.-food-waste_508- tagged.pdf. From Farm to Kitchen: The Environmental Impacts of U.S. Food Waste | US EPA. EPA, 1 December 2021, https://www.epa.gov/land-research/farm-kitchen-environmental-impacts-us-food-waste. Garcia, Eduardo. Things You Can Do: How to Fight Climate Change and Reduce Waste. Ebury Publishing, 2022. The History of Food Waste in America timeline. Timetoast, https://www.timetoast.com/timelines/history-of-food-waste. Home. YouTube, https://refed.org/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwhsmaBhCvARIsAIbEbH5iqirgHy2fA0q0p4zzaFxkmSnC4GAOW1L5Rccg5zcBOgCM08_IsjIaAl0aEALw_wcB. Home. YouTube, https://www.rescuingleftovercuisine.org/challenge?gclid=CjwKCAiAvK2bBhB8EiwAZUbP1LEaiu0uBVFmFoFkko6VFzld6lri74UcyLvOYzyLC7LnWPWcyJ7OdBoClkcQAvD_BwE. Home. YouTube, https://www.foodbanking.org/what-we-do/reducing-food-loss-and- waste/?utm_source=google_cpc&utm_medium=ad_grant&utm_campaign=awareness&gclid=CjwKCAiAvK2bBhB8EiwAZUbP1Ezp06gTir6A- LcA_eoK9035TuFGLG_oEGZCEibt0MEuyjeKXMOKyBoCwGwQAvD_BwE. Leahy, Sinead, et al. Agriculture's Contribution to Climate Change and Role in Mitigation Is Distinct From Predominantly Fossil CO2-Emitting Sectors. Frontiers, 14 December 2020, https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2020.518039/full. Northwestern Shoshone: Pre-1824 Food Waste USU Digital Exhibits. USU Digital Exhibits, http://exhibits.lib.usu.edu/exhibits/show/foodwaste/timeline/northwesternshoshone. Nunez, Christina. Greenhouse gases, facts and information. National Geographic, 13 May 2019, https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/greenhouse-gases. Overview of Greenhouse Gases | US EPA. EPA, 16 May 2022, https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/overview-greenhouse-gases. Schultz, Eric B., and John M. Mandyck. Food Foolish: The Hidden Connection Between Food Waste, Hunger and Climate Change. Pinckney Hugo Group, 2015. Schumm, Laura. Food Rationing in Wartime America - HISTORY, 23 May 2014, http://www.history.com/news/hungry-history/food-rationing-in-wartime-america.