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Meat and the Environment -E-Learning Explainer Video

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Over 800 million people, most of which live in poor countries, do not have enough to eat. At the same time, so much of the food we produce in the world is wasted or lost. Given that how we produce food today has a huge impact on the environment, we should all be more mindful of what we eat and know that our choices affect people around us as well as our planet. Here are 10 interesting facts about food waste for kids to learn. -

1. We throw away almost one-third of the food we produce. That is more than 1 billion tons!

2. The food we waste is responsible for 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions, way more than all the emissions we generate from flying and producing plastic!

3. Producing food requires a lot of water. To make one burger, we need almost 3,000 litres of water (or 660 gallons). This means that when you throw away one burger, you waste as much water as if you would shower for one and a half hours!

4. If food waste was a country, it would be the third biggest emitter of greenhouse gases after the US and China.

5. So many people around the world do not have enough food to eat on a daily basis. In fact, almost 800 million people are undernourished.

6. Just one-quarter of the food we currently waste could be enough to feed all undernourished people in the world.

7. The average European and North American throws away between 95kg and 115kg of food. That is almost the same weight as a giant panda! In comparison, Asians are doing much better, wasting 'only' 6kg to 11kg per person every year.

8. Fruit and vegetables are the most important food groups as they provide your body with a lot of very important nutrients. But they are also the type of food that is wasted the most. Every year, we throw away nearly half of the fruit and greens we grow.

9. Too often we throw away fresh produce because it looks "ugly". However, a bruise on an apple or a yellow leaf on our salad head does not immediately mean that we cannot eat them!

10. It might sound surprising but we actually do have enough food in the world to feed everyone! What is wrong is the way we distribute it and the food choices we make. It is important that we start to understand the impact that certain foods have on the environment to make better eating choices. Learning this while we are still young will make us more conscious adults in the future!

Check This Out Next: How Eating a Plant-Based Diet Can Help the Planet

About the Author

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10 Food Waste Facts for Kids - Earth.Org Kids

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Over 800 million people, most of which live in poor countries, do not have enough to eat. At the same time, so much of the food we produce in the world is wasted or lost.

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Food and Water: How Much is Needed to Produce Our Food? | The 71 Percent

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Food and water - two resources absolutely vital to our existence. When it comes to what we eat, many don't consider the role that water plays...

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The health of our planet is in a state of crisis. Worldwide, we continue with unsustainable practices that are speeding up and worsening the effects of climate change. One of the main contributors of a rapidly warming planet is the food production industry. The potential for positive change within this sector is immense. Transitioning to greener methods can help reduce environmental harm in more ways than one.
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1. Switch to Renewable Energy

Conventional methods of food production rely on fossil fuels. A global energy transition to greener alternatives will stop the contribution to carbon emissions. Renewable energy sources, like solar and wind, are much kinder to the environment.

China is the leading country when it comes to renewables, home to the most green energy, despite 55% still coming from coal. In comparison, the US generated 25% of all energy from renewables in the first half of 2023. The European Union has also made great strides recently, with 39% of electricity in the 27-nation bloc currently generated by renewables.

Although there's uncertainty around new energy sources, switching is not a choice. We are unable to depend on finite resources like fossil fuels for much longer. A dwindling supply means the time to go green with our technology could not come any sooner.
You might also like: China On Track to Meet Clean Energy Target Five Years Ahead of Schedule: Study
2. Reduce Water Usage

Water is a precious resource that is often taken for granted in food production. It takes a huge amount of water to grow crops and raise livestock. Agriculture alone uses 70% of all freshwater worldwide. We can reduce its scarcity by putting value on product quality to stop over-farming. Companies must source meat from reputable farmers rather than selecting the cheapest option. It takes 660 gallons of water to manufacture one singular hamburger, while a 12oz steak requires over 1,300. Less demand means that instead of growing crops to feed livestock, we can use the land for our own consumption.

3. Recyclable Packaging
You might also like: 8 Sustainable Packaging Solutions to Solve the Plastic Waste Dilemma
The packaging used for food products is often non-recyclable and ends up in landfills. One-third of global plastic packaging contributes to pollution worldwide. By using recyclable materials, we promote a circular economy where we reuse products. The time for single use plastic is over, and biodegradable materials are the future. Consumers are becoming more mindful of where they shop when eating out and on the go. Recyclable packaging for takeaway containers and coffee cups could boost a business' popularity.

4. Supporting Local Farmers

Another way to go greener in food production is by supporting local farmers. Purchasing local produce helps save emissions deriving from food transportation. Around 500 million people worldwide work on their family smallholding. Their knowledge of regenerative farming practises is the key to the future of our planet. They have the potential to increase yields and build resilience against environmental challenges. Supporting local farmers also helps keep small businesses thriving in a competitive industry.

5. Avoid Chemicals and Pesticides

The use of pesticides and other chemicals is detrimental for the environment. They can contaminate the soil and local water supplies, killing wildlife and destroying entire ecosystems. Transitioning to more natural farming practices promotes biodiversity and minimises harm to other species. It also leads to healthier food production as we are not consuming toxic substances. Research suggests that ingesting pesticide residue could have adverse side effects on our bodies. Although uncertain how harmful they could be, it is preferable we eat as clean as possible.

6. Listen to the Public

It is undeniable that the public interest around climate change and ways to protect our planet is rising. With more media documenting the devastation of our planet, more of us are acting to change. As the number of people consuming a plant-based diet rises, more are doing their bit for the planet. Whether it is due to inflation, or a conscious decision, shopping habits are greener. Most shoppers bring their own bags, and shop with meal planning for the week in mind. Households minimising food waste and purchasing fewer single-use plastics are leading by example. The public is paving the way, begging big businesses to listen and follow.
You might also like: The Future of Farming: Can We Feed the World Without Destroying It?
Conclusion

The global goodness of going greener in food production is vast. Making small changes and supporting sustainable practices could have a big impact. If we become more conscious consumers, we can also contribute to changing the food industry for the better. Only together can we create a healthier and more sustainable future.

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6 Ways to Go Greener in Food Production | Earth.Org

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Transitioning to greener methods in food production can help reduce environmental harm in more than one ways.

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Raising animals for food requires massive amounts of land, food, energy, and water and causes immense animal suffering.
The Climate Crisis
By some estimates, animal agriculture is responsible for more greenhouse gases than all of the world's transportation systems combined. According to the United Nations, a global shift toward a vegan diet is necessary to combat the worst effects of the climate crisis.
Water Use
It takes an enormous amount of water to grow crops for animals to eat, clean filthy factory farms, and give animals water to drink. A single cow used for milk can drink up to 50 gallons of water per day-or twice that amount in hot weather-and it takes 683 gallons of water to produce just 1 gallon of milk. It takes more than 2,400 gallons of water to produce 1 pound of beef, while producing 1 pound of tofu only requires 244 gallons of water. By going vegan, one person can save approximately 219,000 gallons of water a year.
Pollution
Animals raised for food in the U.S. produce many times more excrement than does the entire human population of the country. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), animals on U.S. factory farms produce about 500 million tons of manure each year. With no animal sewage processing plants, it is most often stored in waste "lagoons" (which can be seen in aerial views of factory farms) or it gets sprayed over fields.

Runoff from factory farms and livestock grazing is one of the leading causes of pollution in our rivers and lakes. The EPA notes that bacteria and viruses can be carried by the runoff and that groundwater can be contaminated.

Factory farms frequently dodge water pollution limits by spraying liquid manure into the air, creating mists that are carried away by the wind. People who live nearby are forced to inhale the toxins and pathogens from the sprayed manure. A report by the California State Senate noted, "Studies have shown that [animal waste] lagoons emit toxic airborne chemicals that can cause inflammatory, immune, irritation and neurochemical problems in humans."
Land Use
Using land to grow crops for animals is vastly inefficient. It takes 75% less land to feed someone on a plant-based (vegan) diet than it does to feed a meat-eater since the crops are consumed directly instead of being used to feed animals. According to the U.N. Convention to Combat Desertification, it takes up to 10 pounds of grain to produce just 1 pound of meat, and in the United States alone, 56 million acres of land are used to grow feed for animals, while only 4 million acres are producing plants for humans to eat.

More than 90 percent of all Amazon rainforest land cleared since 1970 is used for grazing livestock. In addition, one of the main crops grown in the rainforest is soybeans used for animal feed. (The soybeans used in most veggie burger, tofu, and soy milk products sold in the United States are grown right here in the U.S.)
Oceans
While factory farms are ruining our land, commercial fishing methods such as bottom trawling and long-lining often clear the ocean floor of all life and destroy coral reefs. They also kill thousands of dolphins, sea turtles, sharks, and other "bycatch" animals. Coastal fish farms release feces, antibiotics, parasites, and non-native fish into sensitive marine ecosystems. In addition, since most farmed fish are carnivorous, they are fed massive quantities of wild-caught fish. For example, it takes up to 3 pounds of fish meal to produce every pound of farmed salmon.
What You Can Do
Download the Pandemic-Free World pamphlet to learn how being vegan can create a pandemic-free world for all.

The good news is that it's easier than ever to switch to an Earth-friendly, vegan diet. Take PETA's pledge to go vegan. You will likely see an improvement in your health within a month, and your conscience will be clear, knowing that you're doing your part to help the environment and animals.

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Raising animals for food requires massive amounts of land, food, energy, and water and causes immense animal suffering. The Climate Crisis By some estimates, animal agriculture is responsible for more greenhouse gases than all of the world's transportation systems combined.

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Agriculture is another word for farming. It includes both growing and harvesting crops and raising animals, or livestock. Agriculture provides the food and many raw materials…