Agriculture
Safe Seafood
A new tool can help shoppers choose seafood that’s higher in omega-3 fatty acids, lower in mercury, and sustainably produced. This ‘seafood calculator,’ produced by the Environmental Working Group, takes into account a person’s age, weight, gender, whether they have heart disease and, for women, whether they are pregnant or nursing.
Deforestation and the grocery store
When we visit the supermarket or drugstore, deforestation is probably not at the forefront of our minds. Yet many of the items we purchase – from packaged cookies to body lotion – come with the hidden cost of illegal deforestation, particularly in tropical regions.
Natural foods and GMOs
More and more people are trying to make smart choices about the foods they eat. They care about where their food comes from. The food industry has responded to this trend by marketing numerous products with labels like “organic”, “natural”, “artisanal” and so forth.
Ethanol from corn waste
Corn ethanol comprises 10% of the US gasoline market as a result of federal mandates. This heavily subsidized product consumes billions of bushels of corn each year. While originally touted as beneficial to the environment and to the economy, corn ethanol has proven to be highly controversial. Corn ethanol production has come under attack for its energy efficiency, environmental impact, and effects on land use.
Vertical farming
Feeding 7 billion people is clearly one of the greatest challenges we face and estimates are that by the end of the century, the world’s population could reach 10 to 12 billion people.
Mercury’s toxic legacy
New research from Harvard University indicates that the amount of mercury in the environment is much higher than previously thought. Prior estimates put mercury levels at around 720,000 metric tons; the new study suggests it’s actually two-and-a-half times that number.
Getting shark fin soup off the menu
Score one for the sharks. According to a new report by WildAid, sales of shark fin soup have dropped by up to 70 percent. A symbol of wealth and status in China and other parts of Asia, shark fin soup has historically been served at weddings, banquets, and government functions. The dishes’ popularity has had a devastating effect on the world’s shark populations.
Phthalates in food
Several years ago, phthalates were making headlines. There was growing public awareness that these harmful chemicals were commonly found in children’s toys, specifically those made of plastic. Concern rose over babies and small children ingesting the chemicals by putting toys in their mouths, and with good reason – phthalates are endocrine disruptors and are thought to interfere with reproductive hormones, particularly in boys.
Holy Toledo!
Tiny blue-green algae brought Toledo, Ohio’s municipal water system to a halt this summer. Toxic blooms left residents scrambling for bottled water to meet their drinking, cooking, and washing needs.
The Asian camel cricket
There’s a new invasive species to be concerned about: the Asian camel cricket.
The virtues of organic produce
Do you eat organic produce – or go conventional? It’s a hot-button issue. Organic fruits and vegetables are more expensive than conventionally grown counterparts. Some think ‘organic’ labeling is smoke and mirrors – a marketing ploy to make consumers think they’re eating healthier.
Climate change and food
A study led by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology suggests that climate change may pose an even greater threat to the global food supply than previously thought. That’s because higher temperatures will also increase air pollution. A significant increase in the production of ozone, a toxic gas, could prove deadly for many important crops.
The length of a bee’s tongue
Most of us have probably never given much thought to the length of a bee’s tongue – or, for that matter, the fact that bees even have tongues. Yet new research suggests tongue length may be a key factor in bees’ ability to survive their ever-changing environment.
Agrihoods
Residential amenities are typically thought of in terms of golf courses and fitness centers. But at new type of neighborhood popping up all over the U.S., the main attraction is a farm. Called ‘agrihoods,’ these communities center around farm-to-table living.
Throwing away fish
The worldwide fishing industry is in danger. If current trends continue, it could collapse by 2050 because three-quarters of the world’s fish stocks are being harvested faster than they can reproduce. Some 80% of fish species already are fully exploited or are in decline and the great majority of all large predatory fish already are gone.
Tracking fishing boats
[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/EW-08-14-14-Tracking-Fishing-Boats.mp3|titles=EW 08-14-14 Tracking Fishing Boats]
The Global Ocean Commission has released an eight-point plan aimed at protecting the high seas. Two-thirds of the ocean is considered ‘high seas,’ meaning it lies outside of a national territory. The goal of the GOC is to ensure effective management of these areas, safeguarding them from threats like overfishing. [Read more…] about Tracking fishing boats
The cost of climate change
The costs of climate change are many – from the destruction of ecosystems and the loss of species to increased risk of famine. The famous Stern Review by the British government in 2006 looked at the effects on the world economy. Eight years later, a recently released report focuses on the financial bottom line in the U.S., providing an assessment of how unmitigated climate change will add up over the remainder of this century. [Read more…] about The cost of climate change
True food
Genetically modified organisms – or GMOs – are a hot topic in the food industry. More than 70% of packaged foods sold in North America contain genetically modified ingredients. More than 88% of corn, 94% of soybeans, and 90% of cotton in the U.S. are grown from GMO seeds. And all of these figures are rising. [Read more…] about True food
Weed crops for a warming world
