Climate Change and the Food System

"Agriculture is an undervalued and underestimated climate change tool that could be one of the most powerful strategies in the fight against global warming." The Rodale Institute

When you think about climate change, are agriculture and the food system top of mind as one of the primary causes? Maybe not, however the most recent UC Davis study suggests that the food system is responsible for up to 29 percent of global warming generated by the consumer economy in industrialized nations (1). Agriculture's dependence on carbon-based energy to manufacture fertilizers and pesticides, and to run farming, processing, and transportation equipment is responsible for part of the emissions in the food system; along with livestock related emissions, and the transporation, storage, and waste of food along the supply chain.

Check out the resources, articles, and profiles below for more information about the connection between the food system and climate change.

General Resources:
Take a Bite out of Climate Change
Examines food-related emissions from seed to plate to landfill.

Nitrogen News
Linking farm practices, the environment and public health.

UC Davis Agriculture Sustainability Institute:The California Nitrogen Assessment
The California Nitrogen Assessment (CNA) is designed to provide cohesive knowledge that gives a big-picture view of California's nitrogen system.

ASI: Nitrogen Stakeholders
The outreach efforts and engaged stakeholders from accross California taking part in the Nitrogen Assessment Project.

Three Images with Statistics and Information about the Human Affects on Climate Change

The Climate Crisis at the End of Your Fork
Provides general information on the food and climate change connection, including tables showing the core difference between climate crisis-agriculture and climate-friendly farming.

The Food System & Global Warming
Global warming and the food we eat has a bigger connection than you many think. Check out this resource for information on climate change and the environmental impacts of agriculture, with a special focus on livestock.

Low Carbon Diet Calculator
Curious about how you can lower your carbon impact with your food choices? Check out this interactive tool from Bon Appetit Management Company that allows you to determine how your meal is contributing to global warming.

In the News:
The dark side of nitrogen - Grist - Feb. 4, 2010
West Marin ranchers hope to turn pasture pollution into cow power - Marin Independent Journal - Feb. 3, 2010
California Network to Monitor Global-Warming Gases - The New York Times - Feb. 2, 2010
Solutions to Climate Change: Using Trees and Grasses to Capture Carbon and Produce Energy - Science Daily - Jan. 29, 2010
How Cows (Grass-Fed Only) Could Save the Planet - Time Magazine - Jan. 25, 2010
Farm Bureau Fires Back Against Climate Bill's 'Power Grab' - The New York Times - Jan. 11, 2010
Organic Farming Could Stop Global Climate Change - Treehugger - Oct. 10, 2009
Eat Locally, Ease Climate Change Globally - The Washington Post - Mar. 8, 2008

Additional resources and media

Profiles of individuals working in Climate Change and Agriculture:
Picture of Vance Russell

Vance Russell

Sources
(1) White Paper on the critical issues in reducing GHG emissions and energy use in the food system from the UC Davis Agriculture Sustainability Institute.