Notes from the Lecture on Food and Climate Change

Introduction

• Food systems significantly contribute to climate change.
• The goal is to find effective strategies to address this issue.
• Key challenges: complexity of food systems, misinformation.

Scale of Food Systems

• Agriculture occupies about 38% of Earth's land.
  • 29% of this is for animals (grazing/feed).
• Contrast: Cities cover less than 1% of Earth’s land.
• Massive environmental impacts due to food systems.
• Food systems are connected to:
  1. Biodiversity loss
  2. Water pollution
  3. Ecosystem degradation

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

• Food system contributes about 22% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
• Emissions comparison: similar to electricity and industry sectors.
• Major contributors to emissions:
  1. Deforestation - 11% of global emissions (twice the U.S. economy’s emissions).
  2. Methane from Livestock - Significant source of climate change.
  3. Industrial Farming Methods - Overuse of chemicals and fertilizers.
  4. Rice Production - Contributes about 2%.
• Indirect emissions from food:
  • Food waste in landfills emits methane.
  • Energy/materials for food growth, processing, transport, packaging.
• Total food-related emissions could be around 34% of greenhouse gases.

The Crisis of Food and Climate

• Increasing emissions from the food sector, unlike other sectors (electricity, transportation).
• A need for a science-based plan to tackle food and climate issues.

Steps to Address Emissions

1. Cut Emissions

• Cut primary pollution sources first (analogy with a bathtub).

2. Four Key Pillars:

1. Increase Efficiency
   • Cut food waste (30-40% of food grown is never consumed).
2. Shift Diets
   • Recognize foods with high emissions (e.g., beef emits 100x its weight in greenhouse gases).
   • Encourage plant-rich diet as a significant climate action.
3. Protect Ecosystems
   • Concern over commodity agriculture (deforestation for beef, soy, palm oil).
   • Collaborate with indigenous communities, improve global supply chains.
4. Improve Farming Practices
   • Employ techniques from various agricultural practices to reduce emissions.
   • Focus on reducing fertilizer overuse and its impact on emissions and water quality.

3. Enhance Food System Operations

• Optimize transportation, refrigeration, packaging, and cooking processes.

Carbon Removal

• Recognize potential for carbon capture through:
  • Rewilding former agricultural lands.
  • Practicing regenerative agriculture to improve soil carbon.
• Must complement cutting emissions, not replace it.

Conclusion

• Emphasize a portfolio of solutions rather than a single solution.
• Opportunity: Develop a resilient food system that nourishes, protects nature, and mitigates climate change.
• Transformation requires change and commitment to science and collaboration.

Final Thoughts

• Building a better food system is not only necessary but feasible with current resources and knowledge.