My Meal is a Problem (Question #1)

After doing research on the environmental impacts of the ingredients I listed in my meal, I have concluded that the production of these foods negatively impact the environment. The two groups with the biggest footprint were the eggs and pork/beef. I have narrowed it down to be a problem with the way we operate commercial livestock farms and how the waste from the animals is dealt with. Although there are many issues with chemical and pesticide runoff, I will be looking at how to combat GHGs produced from livestock agriculture procedures.

Livestock and manure management are significant contributors to agricultural GHG emissions. The following practices could reduce carbon and mitigate GHG emissions from livestock and manure:

• Select regionally appropriate forages
• Practice rotational grazing
• Select high quality feed that will reduce methane released from enteric fermentation
• Manage manure to reduce methane and nitrous oxide
• Cover manure storage facilities
• Optimize manure application to soil
• Capture and combust methane from manure
• Renewable energy sources could displace fossil fuel use and would be another possible solution to help reduce GHG emissions on the farm. They can also help decrease reliance on energy sources with volatile prices, and create new economic diversification opportunities for agricultural producers. Renewable energy technologies suitable for on-farm use include:
  • Anaerobic digestion
  • Electrification
  • Geothermal
  • Gasification
  • Wind
  • Solar electric
  These actions would have to be considered at a national scale. Livestock farming standards would have to take a dramatic shift towards environmental friendly technology and procedures. There does not really seem to be any small scale or household solutions to this problem. 
  
  

Resources:
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/industry/agriculture-seafood/agricultural-land-and-environment/climate-action/reducing-agricultural-ghgs