Insights from Project Drawdown’s Webinar on Sustainable Eating and Farming 

Project Drawdown, one of the leading authorities for climate solutions, hosts a series of webinars about important climate topics.  In one of their sessions, Dr. Jonathan Foley sheds light on our current food culture, the effect of food on our ecosystem, and what we can do to reduce the impact of our global food emissions.  This article provides insights from the webinar, “Food Matters: Why Climate Change May Hinge on What We Eat and How We Grow It.”

When we think of climate change, we often attribute it primarily to the burning of fossil fuels. Greenhouse gasses wreak havoc on Earth’s atmosphere, trapping the sun’s heat and slowly warming Earth’s surface. Most people are familiar with the major drivers of carbon emissions: industry and electricity production.  Energy production and industry account for 23.4% and 23.9% of our greenhouse gasses, respectively. But it may be surprising to hear that the world’s third-largest greenhouse gas source comes from food production, agriculture, and land use.  To combat our current climate crisis, we must recognize the toll our current food culture places on the planet.

We must reduce global emissions by 43% by 2030.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) set a target to reduce global emissions by 43% by 2030.  While some effort has been made in other sectors, adequate targeted focus has not been given to the food production, agriculture, and land use sectors, whose emissions continue to grow annually.  Thus, globally, we will not achieve our 2030 goals until progress is made to reduce emissions in the food sector.

Up to 34% of global emissions come from our food system.

As Drawdown reports, 22% of global greenhouse gas emissions are directly attributable to the food industry.  When you drill down into this figure, about half is due to deforestation (11.2%), another 5% due to animal methane emissions, and 3.2% attributed to cropland and pasture management.  Methane from rice, manure management, and biomass burning account for the remaining 2.6%.  But all of these figures do not include the indirect emissions sources of the food industry.  With the added emissions of transportation, food waste, and preparation, the total emissions of the food sector increases to a whopping 34 percent.

Source: Drawdown, “How Food and Farming Will Determine the Fate of Planet Earth”

Most available land on Earth is used for food production.

Surprisingly, cities and suburbs make up only 1% of the land on our planet, whereas 37% is used for food production. Of the land dedicated to food, 75% is used for animal use (either for grazing or to grow livestock feed). Food production generates enormous greenhouse gas emissions, pollutes waterways, strains water resources, destroys habitats, and reduces biodiversity.  

Only 59% of crop yield becomes food fit for human consumption.  

Considering how much of our planet is dedicated to growing and irrigating crops, it’s shocking to discover how inefficient our crop production is.  55% of crops are used for direct human consumption, 36% of grown crops are used to feed animals, and 9% for biofuels and other purposes.  Unfortunately, animals only provide an additional 4% yield when you look at calories delivered.  Thus, only 59% of crop yield becomes food humans consume.  

Collectively, each of these factors adds up. 

Emissions in the food sector continue to climb due to deforestation, the high demand for animal products, crop inefficiencies, irrigation demands, fertilizer misuse, and consumer waste. To reverse our current climate trajectory, we must solve our food emissions problem in smart, targeted ways.

Reducing Our Food System Emissions: What Can We Do?

Dr. Jonathan Foley starts with a simple analogy.  If you have a bathtub that is overflowing, the first thing you do is turn off the water, then clean up the mess, and lastly, drain the water out of the tub.  If you apply this analogy to our food system, the actions we need to take become clear.  Collectively, we need to:

Improve Farming and Agriculture Practices (‘Clean Up the Mess’)

• Protect ecosystems from deforestation. Deforestation is the biggest source of carbon emissions in the food sector.  It’s driven primarily by the current demand for beef, animal feed, and palm oil.  By supporting laws that protect rainforests, national parks, preserves, and rewilding efforts, we can prevent the degradation of ecosystems and protect biodiversity.
• Support indigenous communities.  Studies have proven that indigenous communities who have been given tenure over their local forestlands have a positive effect on the planet, promoting carbon sequestration and reducing deforestation.
• Change fertilizer practices. Fertilizer overuse has led to increased nitrogen levels in our oceans and waterways, polluting our water and causing toxic algae blooms to form.  By balancing countries who overuse fertilizers with those with nutrient-deficient soils, farmers can feed more people and produce less pollution.
• Support lower emissions farming. By adopting regenerative farming practices and fusing old-world farming practices with modern technologies, farmers can improve soil quality and lower food production emissions.

Foley stresses that rewilding and regenerative farming alone cannot solve our food emissions problem. In order to combat our current food crisis, we must reduce demand and improve our current agricultural system.

One Planet Life applauds Drawdown for their dedication to providing timely information and thoughtful climate solutions for our ever-changing world.  We invite you to check out the webinar for yourself: Drawdown Ignite’s recording of “Food Matters: Why Climate Change May Hinge on What We Eat and How We Grow It.”

At One Planet Life, we believe every person can make a difference.  We are inspired by Drawdown’s food webinar to continue to make changes that have a positive impact on our planet and our lives. We know that small changes add up over time, creating a ripple effect that can influence the world around us. Our food system is an area in which we can all join hands and make a difference. 

Additional One Planet Life resources and articles you may be interested in:

• OPL Insight: U.S. Food Waste by Category and Sector
• A Food Waste Recycling Solution that Changed a Nation
• Learn About the Crucial Pillars of a Sustainable Food System
• Urban Composting is Possible
• An Easy Guide to Backyard Composting
• 5 Benefits of Eating More Fruits and Vegetables
• Book Review: No Waste Composting by Michelle Balz 

Discover South Korea’s Inspiring Food Waste Recycling Solution

Food systems have a high environmental cost.  More than 820 million people go hungry every day and many food producers are struggling to stay afloat. In contrast, it’s estimated that 30-40% of food is thrown out by consumers in high-income countries.

The World Economic Forum set a global sustainable development goal to reduce food system waste by 20 million tons by 2030. Let’s explore how South Korea’s food waste recycling program is leading the way to a greener future.

South Korea had a big food waste problem, with 130 kg of food waste produced by an average adult every year.

In comparison, the average food waste produced by a European or American is around 95-115 kg of food per year. Why was waste in South Korea so high to begin with? In the late 90s, the standard of living in the country rose, leading to more single-occupant households and an increase in dining out.

Additionally, meals in South Korea are traditionally served with banchan, which are multiple side dishes that accompany a main dish.  Some meals in South Korea come with as many as 20 banchan.  Side dishes like kimchi, seasoned soybean sprouts, and radish salad are delicious, but eating them all can be challenging.  Uneaten banchan, unfortunately, was a contributing factor that led to excess food waste in South Korea.

Dumping food waste in landfills in South Korea was banned in 2005.  A food waste recycling program was later introduced in 2013.

Because so much food was going to waste, the South Korean government stepped in to save food from going to landfills.  This, in turn, changed the behavior of South Korean citizens. South Koreans now purchase special biodegradable food waste bags at local supermarkets and convenience stores at a cost of around $6/month.

Food waste scraps are placed into special biodegradable food waste bags, which are then placed into designated collection buckets.

The rate of recycled food waste in South Korea has increased from 2% to 95% today.

Collected dry food scraps are then recycled into fertilizer for use in urban gardens.  Any remaining moisture squeezed out of the bags is turned into bio gasses and oils. And although the system isn’t perfect – South Korea has created more fertilizer than can realistically be used – these changes prove how much of a difference small changes can make.

Does your city or town compost? Have you ever tried composting? Check out our Easy Guide to Backyard Composting to learn more about starting a home composting system.  Or find a composting service near you that would be happy to do the dirty work for you.

Learn more about food waste management and recycling in America:

• Tackling the Food Emissions Crisis
• OPL Insight: U.S. Food Waste by Category and Sector
• Composting Champs: US Cities and States Leading the Way
• An Easy Guide to Backyard Composting
• Learn About the Crucial Pillars of a Sustainable Food System
• Urban Composting is Possible
• America’s Recycling Programs are in Disarray, You Can Help

Urban composting is easy and beneficial to the planet.

My urban composting journey began with a couple of clicks in August 2019. Since then, I’ve enjoyed weekly pickups and feel I am making a positive change for the planet.  Learn more about how easy urban composting can be, even in small spaces.

In the United States, approximately 100 million tons of food waste are generated each year. When left to rot in landfills, food waste produces methane, a gas that is 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide.  It seems senseless to throw compostables into the trash when nature can regenerate the waste into soil nutrients.

While I make a conscious effort to buy only what we need, our household still produces food waste.  In 2019, I began wondering how I could repurpose my food scraps while while living in a city apartment.

One day while I was searching the internet, Compostnow.org popped up. My excitement grew as I explored their website and realized that they are a composting service for homes, offices, and food services in my home city of Atlanta, Georgia.

In addition to reducing CO2 and landfills, I love that I can donate my compost to a local farm, garden, or park.  

The Compostnow site is easy to use and shares stats on my impact (see my stats below). If you are going to be out of town, simply indicate a skip on the site and they will not pick up until you are back.  There is also a large list of farms, gardens, and parks that have registered to receive composting.  Select one or more and share your compositing.  If you have a garden, the compost will be delivered back to you!

Since starting in August of 2019, my 573 pounds of food scraps have been transformed into 287 pounds of compost. 

Every month, I am able to divert about 27 pounds of food waste from a landfill. Every little bit helps and it is a pleasure to be a part of nature’s cycle. 

Compostnow is a great service to have in the neighborhood.  We love seeing their vans pass by and their growing presence in Atlanta.  

If you are interested in composting, consider DYI options, paid services such as Compostnow, or seek out community-provided composting services (i.e., San Francisco). Search for local composting services near you.

Please let us know about your composting experiences in the OPL Community tab of our app.  We would love to hear from you!

This experience was shared by OPL Founder and Wayfinder Lorie Buckingham.

Learn more about Lorie.