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Xu Z, Zhuo L, Feng B, Li M, Wang W, Huang H, Wu P. Carbon reduction and water saving potentials for growing corrugated boxes for express delivery services in China. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2318425121. [PMID: 38557182 PMCID: PMC11009682 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2318425121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Corrugated packaging for express grew by 90 times to 16.5 Mt y-1 in China, where 81% of recent global express delivery growth occurred. However, the environmental impacts of production, usage, disposal, and recycling of corrugated boxes under the entire supply chain remain unclear. Here, we estimate the magnitudes, drivers, and mitigation potentials of cradle-to-grave life-cycle carbon footprint (CF) and three colors of water footprints (WFs) for corrugated cardboard packaging in China. Over 2007 to 2021, CF, blue and gray WFs per unit package decreased by 45%, 60%, and 84%, respectively, while green WF increased by 23% with growing imports of virgin pulp and China's waste ban. National total CF and WFs were 21 to 102 folded with the scale effects. Only a combination of the supply chain reconstruction, lighter single-piece packaging, and increased recycling rate can possibly reduce the environmental footprints by 24 to 44% by 2035.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zenghui Xu
- National Engineering Laboratory for Crop Water Use and College of Soil and Water Conservation Science and Engineering, Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University, Yangling712100, China
| | - La Zhuo
- National Engineering Laboratory for Crop Water Use and College of Soil and Water Conservation Science and Engineering, Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University, Yangling712100, China
- National Engineering Research Center for Water Saving Irrigation at Yangling, Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Ministry of Water Resources, Yangling712100, China
| | - Bianbian Feng
- National Engineering Laboratory for Crop Water Use and College of Soil and Water Conservation Science and Engineering, Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University, Yangling712100, China
| | - Meng Li
- National Engineering Laboratory for Crop Water Use and College of Soil and Water Conservation Science and Engineering, Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University, Yangling712100, China
| | - Wei Wang
- National Engineering Research Center for Water Saving Irrigation at Yangling, Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Ministry of Water Resources, Yangling712100, China
- The Research Center of Soil and Water Conservation and Ecological Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing100049, China
| | - Hongrong Huang
- College of Environment and Civil Engineering, Dongguan University of Technology, Dongguan523808, China
| | - Pute Wu
- National Engineering Laboratory for Crop Water Use and College of Soil and Water Conservation Science and Engineering, Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University, Yangling712100, China
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Jamshidi S, Farsimadan M, Mohammadi H. A holistic approach for performance evaluation of wastewater treatment plants: integrating grey water footprint and life cycle impact assessment. Water Sci Technol 2024; 89:1741-1756. [PMID: 38619900 DOI: 10.2166/wst.2024.081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) have positive and negative impacts on the environment. Therefore, life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) can provide a more holistic framework for performance evaluation than the conventional approach. This study added water footprint (WF) to LCIA and defined ϕ index for accounting for the damage ratio of carbon footprint (CF) to WF. The application of these innovations was verified by comparing the performance of 26 WWTPs. These facilities are located in four different climates in Iran, serve between 1,900 and 980,000 people, and have treatment units like activated sludge, aerated lagoon, and stabilization pond. Here, grey water footprint (GWF) calculated the ecological impacts through typical pollutants. Blue water footprint (BWF) included the productive impacts of wastewater reuse, and CF estimated CO2 emissions from WWTPs. Results showed that GWF was the leading factor. ϕ was 4-7.5% and the average WF of WWTPs was 0.6 m3/ca, which reduced 84%, to 0.1 m³/ca, through wastewater reuse. Here, wastewater treatment and reuse in larger WWTPs, particularly with activated sludge had lower cumulative impacts. Since this method takes more items than the conventional approach, it is recommended for integrated evaluation of WWTPs, mainly in areas where the water-energy nexus is a paradigm for sustainable development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shervin Jamshidi
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of Isfahan, HezarJerib Blvd, Isfahan, Iran E-mail:
| | - Mohammad Farsimadan
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of Isfahan, HezarJerib Blvd, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Hanieh Mohammadi
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of Isfahan, HezarJerib Blvd, Isfahan, Iran
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Li B, Qin L, Qi H, Wang J, Dang Y, Lv M, He H. Assessing the effects of drought on rainfed maize water footprints based on remote sensing approaches. J Sci Food Agric 2024; 104:1154-1165. [PMID: 37735953 DOI: 10.1002/jsfa.13000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Revised: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Drought affects the characteristics of water use during crop production and so quantitatively evaluating the impacts is important. However, it remains unclear how crop water use responds to drought. To address this gap, water footprint (WF) and standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI) were calculated by remote sensing approaches to assess the effects of drought on crop water use. Rainfed maize is the most important crop in Jilin Province, and its growth and water use are more susceptible to drought. The present study explored not only the impact of growing season drought on the maize WF values in Jilin Province, but also the response of WF values to drought at different time scales. RESULTS Spatially, 72.94% of the WFblue pixels showed a non-significant increase, and the WFgreen in 68% pixels decreased significantly, being mainly concentrated in the middle region. Furthermore, the pixels affected by monthly time scale drought were mainly in the middle region, whereas the pixels affected by annual time scale drought were mainly in the western region. CONCLUSION Drought not only affected on the source and structure of agricultural water consumption, but also had different effects on WF values at different time scale. These effects had obvious spatial differences. The present study systematically explored the effects of drought on the WF values for rainfed maize in different climate regions and a consideration of these effects could provide valuable information on rainfed maize growth and the agricultural water use response to a changing climate. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Li
- Key Laboratory of Geographical Processes and Ecological Security in Changbai Mountains, Ministry of Education, School of Geographical Sciences, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, China
| | - Lijie Qin
- Key Laboratory of Geographical Processes and Ecological Security in Changbai Mountains, Ministry of Education, School of Geographical Sciences, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, China
| | - Hang Qi
- Key Laboratory of Geographical Processes and Ecological Security in Changbai Mountains, Ministry of Education, School of Geographical Sciences, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, China
| | - Jianqin Wang
- Key Laboratory of Geographical Processes and Ecological Security in Changbai Mountains, Ministry of Education, School of Geographical Sciences, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, China
| | - Yongcai Dang
- Key Laboratory of Geographical Processes and Ecological Security in Changbai Mountains, Ministry of Education, School of Geographical Sciences, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, China
| | - Mingzhu Lv
- Key Laboratory of Geographical Processes and Ecological Security in Changbai Mountains, Ministry of Education, School of Geographical Sciences, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, China
| | - Hongshi He
- School of Natural Resources, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
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Li J, Wang Y, Zheng W, Xia T, Kong X, Yuan Z, Niu B, Wei G, Li B. Comprehensive evaluation of treating drinking water for laying hens using slightly acidic electrolyzed water. Poult Sci 2024; 103:103176. [PMID: 37939586 PMCID: PMC10665938 DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2023.103176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Slightly acidic electrolyzed water (SAEW) is well-known for its highly potent antibacterial properties and safe residue-free nature. In this study, a comprehensive evaluation was conducted on 2 disinfection methods for waterline cleaning in poultry houses: (1) continuously add SAEW into the waterline and (2) the conventional waterline disinfection method, which includes regular use of high-concentration chemical disinfectant for soaking the waterline and flushing with water. The evaluation focused on the effects of these methods on bacteria levels in laying hens' drinking water, the fecal normal rate of laying hens, egg quality, as well as the economic costs and water footprint associated with each method. The results show that the inhibition rate of the control group was 52.45% to 80.36%, which used 1500 mg/L sodium dichloroisocyanurate (DCCNa) for soaking and then flushing with water. The bacterial levels in the waterline returned to pre-treatment levels 26 h after cleaning. However, the experimental group with an available chlorine concentration (ACC) of 0.3 mg/L SAEW showed a higher inhibition rate (99.90%) than the control group (P < 0.05) and exhibited a sustained antimicrobial effect. Regarding eggshell thickness, eggshell strength, and Haugh units of the egg, there were no significant differences between the experimental and control groups. However, the experimental group had higher egg weight and darker yolk color (P < 0.05) than those of the control group. Besides, the experimental group exhibited a higher fecal normal rate and a lower water footprint than those of the control group. Hence, SAEW represents a favorable choice for disinfecting drinking water in poultry houses due to its ease of preparation, lack of residue, energy efficiency, and efficient antibacterial properties. To ensure adequate sanitation, it is recommended to incorporate SAEW with an ACC of 0.3 mg/L into the daily management of the drinking water system for laying hens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Li
- Department of Agricultural Structure and Environmental Engineering, College of Water Resources and Civil Engineering, China Agricultural University, 100083, Beijing, China; Key Laboratory of Agricultural Engineering in Structure and Environment, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, 100083, Beijing, China; Beijing Engineering Research Center on Animal Healthy Environment, 100083, Beijing, China
| | - Yang Wang
- Department of Agricultural Structure and Environmental Engineering, College of Water Resources and Civil Engineering, China Agricultural University, 100083, Beijing, China; Key Laboratory of Agricultural Engineering in Structure and Environment, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, 100083, Beijing, China; Beijing Engineering Research Center on Animal Healthy Environment, 100083, Beijing, China
| | - Weichao Zheng
- Department of Agricultural Structure and Environmental Engineering, College of Water Resources and Civil Engineering, China Agricultural University, 100083, Beijing, China; Key Laboratory of Agricultural Engineering in Structure and Environment, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, 100083, Beijing, China; Beijing Engineering Research Center on Animal Healthy Environment, 100083, Beijing, China
| | - Tong Xia
- Department of Agricultural Structure and Environmental Engineering, College of Water Resources and Civil Engineering, China Agricultural University, 100083, Beijing, China
| | - Xiangbing Kong
- Ruiande Environmental Protection Equipment Co., LTD., Beijing 102600, China
| | - Zhengdong Yuan
- Beijing Deqingyuan Agricultural Technology Co., Ltd., Beijing 102115, China
| | - Binglong Niu
- Beijing Deqingyuan Agricultural Technology Co., Ltd., Beijing 102115, China
| | - Guowen Wei
- Beijing Deqingyuan Agricultural Technology Co., Ltd., Beijing 102115, China
| | - Baoming Li
- Department of Agricultural Structure and Environmental Engineering, College of Water Resources and Civil Engineering, China Agricultural University, 100083, Beijing, China; Key Laboratory of Agricultural Engineering in Structure and Environment, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, 100083, Beijing, China; Beijing Engineering Research Center on Animal Healthy Environment, 100083, Beijing, China.
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Neff RA, Ramsing RJ, Kim BF. Commercial weight-loss diets, greenhouse gas emissions and freshwater consumption. J Hum Nutr Diet 2023; 36:2268-2279. [PMID: 37867400 DOI: 10.1111/jhn.13248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Weight-loss attempts are widespread in the United States, with many using commercial weight-loss diet plans for guidance and support. Accordingly, dietary suggestions within these plans influence the nation's food-related environmental footprint. METHODS We modelled United States (US) per capita greenhouse gas emissions (GHGe) and water footprints associated with seven commercial weight-loss diets, the US baseline, and selected other dietary patterns. We characterised consumption in commercial weight-loss diets both via modelling from provided guidelines and based on specific foods in 1-week meal plans. Cradle-to-farmgate GHGe and water footprints were assessed using a previously developed model. GHGe results were compared to the EAT-Lancet 2050 target. Water footprints were compared to the US baseline. RESULTS Weight-loss diets had GHGe footprints on average 4.4 times the EAT-Lancet target recommended for planetary health (range: 2.4-8.5 times). Bovine meat was by far the largest contributor of GHGe in most diets that included it. Three commercial diets had water footprints above the US baseline. Low caloric intake in some diets compensated for the relative increases in GHGe- and water-intensive foods. CONCLUSIONS Dietary patterns suggested by marketing materials and guidelines from commercial weight-loss diets can have high GHGe and water footprints, particularly if caloric limits are exceeded. Commercial diet plan guidance can be altered to support planetary and individual health, including describing what dietary patterns can jointly support environmental sustainability and weight loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roni A Neff
- Department of Environmental Health & Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Environmental Health & Engineering Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Rebecca J Ramsing
- Department of Environmental Health & Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Environmental Health & Engineering Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Brent F Kim
- Department of Environmental Health & Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Environmental Health & Engineering Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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Macias Franco A, da Silva AEM, de Moura FH, Norris AB, Roloson SB, Gerrard DE, de Mello A, Fonseca MA. Effects of isoenergetic supplementation as water use mitigation strategy on water footprint and health of nursing bull calves. Transl Anim Sci 2023; 7:txad127. [PMID: 38023421 PMCID: PMC10667656 DOI: 10.1093/tas/txad127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Sustainable livestock systems focus on mitigating natural resource use such as water. Dietary management strategies can significantly reduce the water footprint of livestock animals; however, animal health is of concern when animals reduce water intake due to subacute dehydration. To evaluate potential consequences of this nutritional management intervention, a total of 23, 60 ± 3 days old nursing Holstein bull calves, weighing 94.7 ± 12.07 kg, were distributed in a completely randomized design and received one of three diets. Control was a basal diet composed of a non-medicated milk replacer (milk replacer; n = 7), and the additional two diets, were composed of the same non-medicated milk replacer in addition to either lipid [n = 8; milk replacer + menhaden fish oil (3 %)] or soluble carbohydrate [n = 8; milk replacer + corn starch (7%) isoenergetic to fat group] supplements. Animals were offered ad libitum mineral mix and water, as well as 120 g/day of a composite mix of dried microbrewery's spent grains. Data were analyzed as linear and generalized linear mixed models with diet as a fixed effect and animal as random utilizing R studio (R Core Team, 2021, Vienna, Austria; SAS Inst., Cary, NC). Within supplementation groups, lipid supplemented calves had the highest lymphocyte (63.24 vs 57.69 counts/100 lymphocytes; P < 0.033), and lowest neutrophil counts (29.3 vs 35.3 counts/100 lymphocytes; P < 0.047). Supplementation significantly increased total serum protein (P = 0.001) and skin moisture (P < 0.011), with carbohydrate group having the highest skin moisture (5.30 vs 3.99; P < 0.047). Supplementation also decreased fecal fluidity scores (P < 0.001) with no significant change in serum electrolytes (P > 0.256). No significant differences were found amongst treatments for the ingestive behavior (P > 0.338). The carbohydrate-supplemented calves significantly decreased all daily water footprints compared to the control and fat-supplemented groups: blue a 47.55 L decrease, (P < 0.001), green a 265.62 L decrease (P = 0.005), and gray a 55.87 L decrease (P = 0.009) water footprint, as well as total water footprint (369.04 L, P = 0.004). Our results indicate the potential to maintain animal performance while increasing water use efficiency through diet supplementation tailored to mitigate water use, without adverse effects on animal health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arturo Macias Franco
- Department of Agriculture, Veterinary, and Rangeland Sciences, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, Nevada 89557, USA
| | | | - Felipe Henrique de Moura
- Department of Agriculture, Veterinary, and Rangeland Sciences, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, Nevada 89557, USA
| | - Aaron B Norris
- Department of Natural Resources Management, Texas Tech University, Texas 79409USA
- Department of Agriculture, Veterinary, and Rangeland Sciences, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, Nevada 89557, USA
| | - Serena Breanne Roloson
- Department of Agriculture, Veterinary, and Rangeland Sciences, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, Nevada 89557, USA
| | - David E Gerrard
- Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, USA
| | - Amilton de Mello
- Department of Agriculture, Veterinary, and Rangeland Sciences, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, Nevada 89557, USA
| | - Mozart A Fonseca
- Department of Agriculture, Veterinary, and Rangeland Sciences, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, Nevada 89557, USA
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Cosentino C, Paolino R, Adduci F, Tarricone S, Pacelli C, Sabia E, Freschi P. Case Study on the Impact of Water Resources in Beef Production: Corn vs. Triticale Silage in the Diet of Limousine × Podolian Young Bulls. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:3355. [PMID: 37958110 PMCID: PMC10650317 DOI: 10.3390/ani13213355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2023] [Revised: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
In this study, we have included the water footprint (WF) in the process of optimizing animal feed rations. The global footprint of cattle production accounts for the largest share (33%) of the global water footprint of livestock production. Using two homogeneous groups of Limousine × Podolian young bulls, two different diets were compared: corn silage feeding (CSF), with a corn silage-based diet; and triticale silage feeding (TSF), with a triticale silage-based diet. Silage constituted about 41% and 46% of the feed composition (for CSF and TSF, respectively). Diets were characterised by the same energy and protein content. Despite the lower WF in the TSF group than in the CSF group (7726 vs. 8571 L/day/calf respectively), no significant differences were found in animal performances (i.e., daily weight gain and final weight), feed conversion or income over feed costs. These results show that simple production decisions can have a significant impact on water resource. Therefore, the use of triticale silage should be further promoted, especially in world regions with limited water resources where low WF feed formulation is more strategic than elsewhere.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlo Cosentino
- School of Agricultural, Forestry, Food and Environmental Sciences (SAFE), University of Basilicata, 85100 Potenza, Italy; (C.C.); (F.A.); (C.P.); (E.S.); (P.F.)
| | - Rosanna Paolino
- School of Agricultural, Forestry, Food and Environmental Sciences (SAFE), University of Basilicata, 85100 Potenza, Italy; (C.C.); (F.A.); (C.P.); (E.S.); (P.F.)
| | - Francesco Adduci
- School of Agricultural, Forestry, Food and Environmental Sciences (SAFE), University of Basilicata, 85100 Potenza, Italy; (C.C.); (F.A.); (C.P.); (E.S.); (P.F.)
| | - Simona Tarricone
- Department of Soil, Plant and Food Science, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70125 Bari, Italy
| | - Corrado Pacelli
- School of Agricultural, Forestry, Food and Environmental Sciences (SAFE), University of Basilicata, 85100 Potenza, Italy; (C.C.); (F.A.); (C.P.); (E.S.); (P.F.)
| | - Emilio Sabia
- School of Agricultural, Forestry, Food and Environmental Sciences (SAFE), University of Basilicata, 85100 Potenza, Italy; (C.C.); (F.A.); (C.P.); (E.S.); (P.F.)
| | - Pierangelo Freschi
- School of Agricultural, Forestry, Food and Environmental Sciences (SAFE), University of Basilicata, 85100 Potenza, Italy; (C.C.); (F.A.); (C.P.); (E.S.); (P.F.)
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Zhao X, Hou S, Zhang X, Hubacek K, Tillotson MR, Liu Y, Liu J. Revealing Trade Potential for Reversing Regional Freshwater Boundary Exceedance. Environ Sci Technol 2023; 57:11520-11530. [PMID: 37491875 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c01699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/27/2023]
Abstract
Applying the planetary boundary for the freshwater framework at the regional level is important in supporting local water management but is subject to substantial uncertainty. Previous estimates have not fully investigated the potential of trade in mitigating regional freshwater boundary (RFB) exceedance. Here, we estimate RFB based on the average results of 15 different hydrological models to reduce uncertainty. We then propose a framework to divide the RFB exceedance/maintenance into contributions from both consumption and trade and further identify trade contribution into six types. We applied the framework to China's provinces, which are characterized by intensive interprovincial trade and a significant mismatch in water resource supply and demand. We found that the current trade pattern limits the role of trade to mitigate RFB exceedance. For the importing provinces exceeding RFBs, 78% of their imported goods and services came from other RFB exceeding provinces. Scenario analysis showed that relying on increased imports alone, even to its greatest extent, will not reverse RFB exceedance in most importing provinces. Increased imports, however, will have an aggregate effect on the trade partners, leading to the exceedance of the national freshwater boundary. We also found that promoting export of goods and services from non-RFB exceeding provinces and reducing their water intensity will help address the imbalance both locally and, in the aggregate, nationally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xu Zhao
- Institute of Blue and Green Development, Shandong University, Weihai 264209, People's Republic of China
| | - Siyu Hou
- Integrated Research on Energy, Environment and Society (IREES), Energy and Sustainability Research Institute Groningen (ESRIG), University of Groningen, Groningen 9747 AG, Netherlands
| | - Xinxin Zhang
- Business School, Shandong University, Weihai 264209, People's Republic of China
| | - Klaus Hubacek
- Integrated Research on Energy, Environment and Society (IREES), Energy and Sustainability Research Institute Groningen (ESRIG), University of Groningen, Groningen 9747 AG, Netherlands
| | - Martin R Tillotson
- water@leeds, School of Civil Engineering, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom
| | - Yu Liu
- College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, People's Republic of China
| | - Junguo Liu
- Henan Provincial Key Laboratory of Hydrosphere and Watershed Water Security, North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power, Zhengzhou 450046, People's Republic of China
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Bordoni A. Insight into the Sustainability of the Mediterranean Diet: The Water Footprint of the Recommended Italian Diet. Nutrients 2023; 15:2204. [PMID: 37432353 DOI: 10.3390/nu15092204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Revised: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/12/2023] Open
Abstract
At present, as we face climate change and natural resource scarcity, one of the major challenges linking humans and the environment is to ensure sufficient, nutritious, safe, and affordable food for a rapidly growing world population. In a nutshell, "feed the world without destroying it". The water footprint (WF), i.e., the withdrawals of fresh water necessary to produce one kilogram of food product, is one of the key indicators of the environmental impact of diets. In this work, the WF of the food patterns suggested by the Italian Food Based Dietary Guidelines, considered a model of the Mediterranean Diet, was evaluated for the first time. The data reported here clearly demonstrate that the suggested Italian dietary patterns have a low WF, the reduction of which by replacing animal foods with plant foods is limited because the suggested consumption of meat is already low. Consumer choice in the consumption of specific products within a food group could further reduce the WF of the diet, underlining the need to provide correct information not only to consumers but also to farmers and producers to encourage them to make water-saving choices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Bordoni
- Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences (DISTAL), University of Bologna, Piazza Goidanich 60, 47521 Cesena, FC, Italy
- Interdepartmental Centre for Industrial Agri-Food Research (CIRI), University of Bologna, Via Quinto Bucci 336, 47521 Cesena, FC, Italy
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Weng C, Zeng Y, Liu D, Zhang J, He L. Optimal allocation of agricultural water resources in Yanghe watershed considering blue water to green water ratio. J Sci Food Agric 2023; 103:3558-3568. [PMID: 36719269 DOI: 10.1002/jsfa.12478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2022] [Revised: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Yanghe Watershed has low annual rainfall, uneven spatial and temporal distribution, extreme shortage of water resources in some areas. The contradiction between supply and demand of water for agricultural production is prominent and the expected production value cannot be achieved. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate the supply and demand of agricultural water resources and the impact of green water on agricultural crops in Yanghe Watershed. RESULTS This article proposes a new crop economic model for increasing the green-water footprint to blue-water footprint ratio (GWF:BWF) in accordance with the regional characteristics, alleviating agricultural water shortage in irrigation areas, optimizing water resource allocation, and achieving sustainable agricultural development. The proposition is based on a study of five crops in eight districts and counties in the Yanghe River watershed. By combining the economic model F with a crop water production function, we achieved 89.3%, 88.9%, 97.1%, 81.5%, and 87.0% of the optimal water demands of the five crops, respectively, and effectively improved the underground irrigation of crops and the water resource utilization efficiency. CONCLUSION The GWF:BWF threshold interval was subsequently selected based on the temporal changes in the BWF and GWF in the study area. This enabled significant reduction of the planting area of blue-water crops and increase in the proportion of green-water crops, while also improving the agricultural economy of the Yanghe Watershed. The proposed model promises to afford enhanced management of agricultural irrigation areas that experience rainfall shortage. © 2023 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuansong Weng
- College of Civil Architecture and Environment, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yiheng Zeng
- College of Civil Architecture and Environment, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Defu Liu
- College of Civil Architecture and Environment, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jialei Zhang
- College of Civil Architecture and Environment, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Li He
- College of Mechatronics and Control Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
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Jiao MM, He L, Wang YX. Regional horizontal ecological compensation and ecosystem service value based on water resources pattern and insurance gain. Ying Yong Sheng Tai Xue Bao 2023; 34:751-760. [PMID: 37087659 DOI: 10.13287/j.1001-9332.202303.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/24/2023]
Abstract
Ecological compensation plays an important role in maintaining ecosystem services and promoting regional green development. We built a regional horizontal ecological compensation model based on water resources pattern and insurance gain, and which was used to solve the problems of single compensation method and low compensation efficiency. Taking the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region as an example, we analyzed water footprint and water ecological carrying capacity from 2000 to 2019. The compensation subject and object and water footprint compensation amount were determined according to the input cost of ecological protection and allocation factor. Then, the insurance pricing model was introduced to determine ecological insurance premium rate. We calculated insurance compensation, ecological compensation standard and different types of ecosystem service value. Results showed that the whole region was at a state of water ecological deficit, with the agricultural water footprint accounting for 94.5%. From the perspective of the compensation subject and object, Beijing and Tianjin, as the compensation subject, needed to pay 0.402 billion yuan and 0.396 billion yuan (the amount of compensation) to Hebei Province each year. Hebei Province obtained a total of 0.228 billion yuan of ecological insurance with an insurance premium rate of 1.4%, and should receive an average annual ecological compensation standard of 0.81 billion yuan from Beijing and Tianjin. Hydrological regulation was the core ecosystem service in the region, with an average value of 187.974 billion yuan. It was of strategic significance to introduce ecological insurance mechanism to construct horizontal ecological compensation mechanism, improve ecosystem service function, and enhance the value of ecosystem services in the study area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng-Meng Jiao
- State Key Laboratory of Hydraulic Engineering Simulation and Safety, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300350, China
- Zhongshui North Survey Design Research Co., Ltd, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Li He
- State Key Laboratory of Hydraulic Engineering Simulation and Safety, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300350, China
- School of Civil Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Yu-Xuan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Hydraulic Engineering Simulation and Safety, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300350, China
- School of Civil Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300350, China
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12
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Toolkiattiwong P, Arunrat N, Sereenonchai S. Environmental, Human and Ecotoxicological Impacts of Different Rice Cultivation Systems in Northern Thailand. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2023; 20:2738. [PMID: 36768102 PMCID: PMC9916391 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20032738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Revised: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Sustainable practices in rice cultivation require effective farming management concerning environmental and human health impacts. In this study, three rice cultivation systems, namely low-land, upland, and terraced rice in the Mae Chaem District, Chiang Mai Province, were assessed and the carbon footprint (CF), water footprint (WF), and human and ecotoxicological impacts were compared from pesticide application. The results showed that the highest CF intensity was observed in terraced rice with 1.15 kg CO2eq kg-1 rice yield, followed by lowland rice (1.02 kg CO2eq kg-1 rice yield) and upland rice (0.17 kg CO2eq kg-1 rice yield) fields. Moreover, lowland rice cultivation generated the highest total WF with 1701.6 m3 ton-1, followed by terraced rice (1422.1 m3 ton-1) and upland rice (1283.2 m3 ton-1). The lowland rice fields had the most impact on human health and freshwater ecotoxicity, followed by the terraced and upland rice cultivation systems. The results also showed that most of the pesticides remaining in soils were chlorpyrifos (98.88%), butachlor (96.94%), and fipronil (95.33%), respectively. The substances with the greatest distributions in freshwater were acephate (56.74%), glyphosate (50.90%), and metaldehyde (45.65%), respectively. This study indicated that, with more agricultural inputs, higher CF, WF, human health impacts, and freshwater ecotoxicity were generated. Although the use of pesticides in the study areas did not exceed the recommendations on the packaging, glyphosate and chlorpyrifos are restricted in Thailand, so it is necessary to monitor their use due to their long-term health effects.
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13
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Hatjiathanassiadou M, de Souza CVS, Vale D, Dantas NM, Batista YB, Marchioni DML, Lima SCVC, Lyra CO, Rolim PM, Seabra LMJ. Dietary Environmental Footprints and Their Association with Socioeconomic Factors and Food Purchase Practices: BRAZUCA Natal Study. Foods 2022; 11. [PMID: 36496650 DOI: 10.3390/foods11233842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Revised: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The analysis of dietary environmental impacts has proven to be an important tool for guiding the adoption of healthier and more sustainable diets. This study aimed to estimate the dietary carbon (CF), water (WF), and ecological (EF) footprints of residents in the city of Natal, Brazil; the study also aimed to verify their association with socioeconomic factors and food purchase practices. This is a cross-sectional study that used dietary data from 411 adults and elderlies, which was collected via a questionnaire that applied to the respondents. The results showed that the dietary CF was 1901.88 g CO2 eq/day/1000 kcal, the WF was 1834.03 L/day/1000 kcal, and the EF was 14.29 m2/day/1000 kcal. The highest environmental footprint values showed an association (p ≤ 0.05) with the factors of male sex, white ethnicity, and higher income and schooling, whereas the lowest environmental footprint values were associated with social vulnerability variables such as female sex, non-white ethnicity, and lower income and schooling (p ≤ 0.05). Moreover, people with lower environmental footprints consumed less fast food, had fewer meals at snack bars, and used food delivery services less often than those with higher footprints. The foods that most contributed to the CFs and WFs were beef and chicken, while fish and beef contribute the most to the EFs. The data in the present study show that a diet with a lower environmental impact is not always equal to a sustainable diet. This relationship is paradoxical and relates to food justice, as people with lower environmental footprint values are the same ones with worse socioeconomic conditions. In this sense, is it essential to consider the influence of the social context when assessing dietary environmental impacts and when assessing actions that promote healthier and more sustainable diets.
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14
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Quiroz D, Greene JM, Quinn JC. Regionalized Life-Cycle Water Impacts of Microalgal-Based Biofuels in the United States. Environ Sci Technol 2022; 56:16400-16409. [PMID: 36227213 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c05552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
While algal biofuels have the potential to reduce the national reliance on fossil fuels, high water consumption associated with algal biomass cultivation represents a major concern potentially compromising the sustainable commercialization of this technology. This study focuses on quantifying the water footprint (WF) and water scarcity footprint (WSF) of renewable diesel derived from algal biomass and provides insights into where algal cultivation is less water-intensive than traditional ethanol and biodiesel feedstocks. Results are generated with an engineering process model developed to predict the life-cycle water consumption, considering green, blue, and gray water, of algae facilities across the United States at a high spatiotemporal resolution. The total WFs for Florida and Arizona are determined to be 13.1 and 17.6 m3 GJ-1, respectively. The blue WF in Arizona is shown to be 8.5 times larger than in Florida, while the green WF is 4.5 times smaller, but when combined into a total WF, there is just a 26% difference between the two locations. The analysis reveals that the total life-cycle WFs of algal renewable diesel are smaller than the optimal WFs of corn ethanol and soybean biodiesel. Algal systems benefit from higher growth rates and offer the opportunity to manage wastewater streams, therefore generating smaller green and gray WFs than those of conventional biofuels. The WSF analysis identifies the Gulf Coast as the most suitable region for algal cultivation, with cultivation in the western US shown to exacerbate local water stress levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Quiroz
- Mechanical Engineering Department, Colorado State University, 1374 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, Colorado 80522, United States
| | - Jonah M Greene
- Mechanical Engineering Department, Colorado State University, 1374 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, Colorado 80522, United States
| | - Jason C Quinn
- Mechanical Engineering Department, Colorado State University, 1374 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, Colorado 80522, United States
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15
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Franca PAP, Gonçalves Lima CKAZ, de Oliveira TM, Ferreira TJ, da Silva RRM, Loureiro LL, Pierucci APTR. Effectiveness of current protein recommendations in adolescent athletes on a low-carbon diet. Front Nutr 2022; 9:1016409. [PMID: 36185661 PMCID: PMC9520475 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2022.1016409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Adolescent athletes require adequate energy and nutrient supply to support growth, development, and the demands associated with exercise and training. However, they are susceptible to nutritional inadequacies affecting their health and physical performance. Food choices with nutrient adequacy and environmental protection is crucial for a sustainable diet. Therefore, we aimed to assess the adequacy of low-carbon diets to meet the protein requirements of adolescent athletes. Therefore, a cross-sectional observational study was conducted with 91 adolescent athletes from sports clubs in Rio de Janeiro who underwent anthropometric and food consumption assessments. To estimate the environmental impact of anthropogenic activities, the sustainability indicators carbon footprint (CF) and water footprint (WF) were used. The CF of the athlete's diet was compared with the benchmark of 1,571 g CO2eq/cap/d estimated by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). Protein recommendations according to the American Dietetic Association (ADA) for athletes and protein food groups according to the low-carbon EAT-Lancet reference diet were used as references. The results were stratified by sport modality, age, sex, and income range. The Mann-Whitney test was performed, followed by the Kruskal-Wallis test with Dunn's post-hoc test to assess the differences between groups using the statistical program GraphPad PRISM® version 8.0. CF and WF were directly associated with total energy intake, total protein intake, animal-origin protein intake, and the food groups of meat and eggs. Significant differences were observed in the environmental impact of diet based on sports groups and gender. The athletes' profile with higher environmental impact was male, middle-income class, and of any age group. The quartiles of CF of the overall diets were above the 1,571 g CO2eq/cap/d benchmark. Additionally, ADA's recommended range of daily protein consumption was met by most athletes, even in the lowest quartile of CF. Thus, a diet with a lower environmental impact can meet protein recommendations in adolescent athletes. The results found are of interest to the sports and food industries. It could help in designing a balanced diet for athletes as well as ensure less negative environmental impacts of food production and consumption.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Anna Paola Trindade Rocha Pierucci
- Department of Basic and Experimental Nutrition (DNBE), Instituto de Nutrição Josué de Castro, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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16
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Karandish F, Nouri H, Schyns JF. Agricultural Adaptation to Reconcile Food Security and Water Sustainability Under Climate Change: The Case of Cereals in Iran. Earths Future 2022; 10:e2021EF002095. [PMID: 36583139 PMCID: PMC9786694 DOI: 10.1029/2021ef002095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Revised: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
In this study, we simulate the crop yield and water footprint (WF) of major food crops of Iran on irrigated and rainfed croplands for the historical and the future climate. We assess the effects of three agricultural adaptation strategies to climate change in terms of potential blue water savings. We then evaluate to what extent these savings can reduce unsustainable blue WF. We find that cereal production increases under climate change in both irrigated and rainfed croplands (by 2.6-3.1 and 1.4-2.3 million t yr-1, respectively) due to increased yields (6.6%-78.7%). Simultaneously, the unit WF (m3 t-1) tends to decrease in most scenarios. However, the annual consumptive water use increases in both irrigated and rainfed croplands (by 0.3-1.8 and 0.5-1.7 billion m3 yr-1, respectively). This is most noticeable in the arid regions, where consumptive water use increases by roughly 70% under climate change. Off-season cultivation is the most effective adaptation strategy to alleviate additional pressure on blue water resources with blue water savings of 14-15 billion m3 yr-1. The second most effective is WF benchmarking, which results in blue water savings of 1.1-3.5 billion m3 yr-1. The early planting strategy is less effective but still leads to blue water savings of 1.7-1.9 billion m3 yr-1. In the same order of effectiveness, these three strategies can reduce blue water scarcity and unsustainable blue water use in Iran under current conditions. However, we find that these strategies do not mitigate water scarcity in all provinces per se, nor all months of the year.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatemeh Karandish
- Water Engineering DepartmentUniversity of ZabolZabolIran
- Multidisciplinary Water ManagementFaculty of Engineering TechnologyUniversity of TwenteEnschedeThe Netherlands
| | - Hamideh Nouri
- Division of AgronomyUniversity of GöttingenGöttingenGermany
| | - Joep F. Schyns
- Multidisciplinary Water ManagementFaculty of Engineering TechnologyUniversity of TwenteEnschedeThe Netherlands
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17
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Minotti B, Antonelli M, Dembska K, Marino D, Riccardi G, Vitale M, Calabrese I, Recanati F, Giosuè A. True Cost Accounting of a healthy and sustainable diet in Italy. Front Nutr 2022; 9:974768. [PMID: 35967799 PMCID: PMC9372443 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2022.974768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 07/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
It is widely upheld that global food systems are unsustainable. Sustainable diets are gaining prominence as key components to entangle global food system challenges, as well as to transition towards the pathway of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Hence, sustainable and healthy diets are at the core of much research with the aim to bring together nutritional adequacy, cultural acceptability, environmental sustainability, economic affordability, and shape future consumption patterns. This article contributes to advancing knowledge on sustainable diets by proposing a True Cost Accounting method to assess the cost and impact of the adoption of a more sustainable and healthier diet, using Italy as an illustration. The research analyses the complexity of a diet from an environmental, health, and socioeconomic point of view and defines a new assessment framework that can be replicated and adapted to other contexts. Results show that in Italy, the adoption of a sustainable and healthy diet has a 47% lower carbon footprint and 25% lower water footprint than the current diet, while impacting 13% less on the average income and food monthly expenditure. Also, the desirable diet has a 21% lower impact on the sanitary costs related to cardiovascular disease. This study corroborates that the consumption of the desirable diet would provide a total cost saving of 741 EUR per year per capita, if we consider its impact on the environment, health, and socio-economic costs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bianca Minotti
- Department of Bioscience and Territory, University of Molise, Campobasso, Italy.,Department of Humanities, Faculty of Economics and Management, Czech University of Life Science, Prague, Czechia
| | - Marta Antonelli
- Barilla Center for Food & Nutrition Foundation, Parma, Italy.,Division on Climate Change, Impacts on Agriculture, Forests and Ecosystem Services (IAFES), Fondazione Centro Euro-Mediterraneo sui Cambiamenti Climatici, Viterbo, Italy
| | | | - Davide Marino
- Department of Bioscience and Territory, University of Molise, Campobasso, Italy
| | - Gabriele Riccardi
- Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - Marilena Vitale
- Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - Ilaria Calabrese
- Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | | | - Annalisa Giosuè
- Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy
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18
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Bonetti S, Sutanudjaja EH, Mabhaudhi T, Slotow R, Dalin C. Climate change impacts on water sustainability of South African crop production. Environ Res Lett 2022; 17:084017. [PMID: 35928217 PMCID: PMC9310695 DOI: 10.1088/1748-9326/ac80cf] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2021] [Revised: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Agricultural production in arid and semi-arid regions is particularly vulnerable to climate change, which, combined with projected food requirements, makes the sustainable management of water resources critical to ensure national and global food security. Using South Africa as an example, we map the spatial distribution of water use by seventeen major crops under current and future climate scenarios, and assess their sustainability in terms of water resources, using the water debt repayment time indicator. We find high water debts, indicating unsustainable production, for potatoes, pulses, grapes, cotton, rice, and wheat due to irrigation in arid areas. Climate change scenarios suggest an intensification of such pressure on water resources, especially in regions already vulnerable, with a country-scale increase in irrigation demand of between 6.5% and 32% by 2090. Future land use planning and management should carefully consider the spatial distribution and local sustainability of crop water requirements to reduce water consumption in water risk hotspots and guarantee long-term food security.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Bonetti
- Soil Physics and Land Management Group, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Institute for Sustainable Resources, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Edwin H Sutanudjaja
- Department of Physical Geography, Faculty of Geosciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Tafadzwanashe Mabhaudhi
- Centre for Transformative Agricultural and Food Systems, School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
- International Water Management Institute (IWMI-GH)—West Africa Regional Office, Accra, Ghana
| | - Rob Slotow
- Centre for Transformative Agricultural and Food Systems, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
- Department of Genetics, Evolution & Environment, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Carole Dalin
- Institute for Sustainable Resources, University College London, London, United Kingdom
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Curi-Quinto K, Unar-Munguía M, Rodríguez-Ramírez S, Rivera JA, Fanzo J, Willett W, Röös E. Sustainability of Diets in Mexico: Diet Quality, Environmental Footprint, Diet Cost, and Sociodemographic Factors. Front Nutr 2022; 9:855793. [PMID: 35694171 PMCID: PMC9185856 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2022.855793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Little is known about the current intake of sustainable diets globally and specifically in middle-income countries, considering nutritional, environmental and economic factors. Objective To assess and characterize the sustainability of Mexican diets and their association with sociodemographic factors. Design Dietary data of 2,438 adults within the National Health and Nutrition Survey 2012 by integrating diet quality measured by the Healthy Eating Index (HEI-2015), diet cost, and four environmental indicators were analyzed: land use (LU), biodiversity loss (BDL), carbon footprint (CFP), and blue water footprint (BWFP). We defined healthier more sustainable diets (MSD) as those with HEI-2015 above the overall median, and diet cost and environmental indicators below the median. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the association of sociodemographic factors with MSD. Results MSD were consumed by 10.2% of adults (4% of urban and 22% of rural), who had lower intake of animal-source foods, unhealthy foods (refined grains, added sugar and fats, mixed processed dishes and sweetened beverages), fruits, and vegetables, and higher intake of whole grains than non-MSD subjects. Characteristics of MSD vs. non-MSD (urban; rural) were: HEI-2015 (62.6 vs. 51.9; 66.8 vs. 57.6), diet-cost (1.9 vs. 2.8; 1.9 vs. 2.5 USD), LU (3.3 vs. 6.6; 3.2 vs. 5.9 m2), BDL (105 vs. 780; 87 vs. 586 species × 10−10), BWFP (244 vs. 403; 244 vs. 391 L), and CFP (1.6 vs. 4.4; 1.6 vs. 3.7 kg CO2eq). Adults from rural vs. urban (OR 2.7; 95% CI: 1.7, 4.1), or from the South (OR 2.1; 95% CI: 1.1, 3.9), Center (OR 2.3; 95% CI: 1.3, 4.4) vs. the North were more likely to consume MSD, while adults with high vs. low socioeconomic status were less likely (OR 0.17; 95% CI: 0.09, 0.3). Conclusions The MSD is a realistic diet pattern mainly found in disadvantaged populations, but diet quality is still sub-optimal. Increased consumption of legumes, fruits, and vegetables, and a reduction in unhealthy foods, is required to improve nutritional quality of diets while ensuring their environmental sustainability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine Curi-Quinto
- Center for Research on Nutrition and Health, National Institute of Public Health, Cuernavaca, Mexico
| | - Mishel Unar-Munguía
- Center for Research on Nutrition and Health, National Institute of Public Health, Cuernavaca, Mexico
| | - Sonia Rodríguez-Ramírez
- Center for Research on Nutrition and Health, National Institute of Public Health, Cuernavaca, Mexico
| | - Juan A Rivera
- National Institute of Public Health, Cuernavaca, Mexico
| | - Jessica Fanzo
- Nitze School of Advanced International Studies, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Walter Willett
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Elin Röös
- Department of Energy and Technology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
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20
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Wang J, Sun S, Yin Y, Wang K, Sun J, Tang Y, Zhao J. Water-Food-Carbon Nexus Related to the Producer-Consumer Link: A Review. Adv Nutr 2022; 13:938-952. [PMID: 35254401 PMCID: PMC9156389 DOI: 10.1093/advances/nmac020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2021] [Revised: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Clarifying the water-food-carbon nexus is key to promoting the harmonious development of human society and environmental resources. The sustainable development of agricultural production systems is being challenged by water scarcity and climate change. Crop growth and irrigation consume large amounts of water, and greenhouse gases are generated due to processes such as fertilizer application and enteric fermentation. These environmental impacts accompany the agricultural production process and are thus embedded in the entire life cycle of diverse food items; in turn, consumers' food choices indirectly impact water consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Reducing agricultural water consumption and greenhouse gas emissions during food production have become crucial issues in mitigating the projected water, climate, and food crises. From the consumer's perspective, diets vary regionally due to different natural conditions for food production and varying socioeconomic and income levels. This review delves into the interactions between diet and its potential environmental impacts, including water consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, in order to support further development of the water-food-carbon nexus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiahui Wang
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Soil and Water Engineering in Arid and Semiarid Areas, Ministry of Education, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Xianyang, China.,Institute of Water Saving Agriculture in Arid Regions of China, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Xianyang, China.,College of Water Resources and Architectural Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Xianyang, China
| | - Shikun Sun
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Soil and Water Engineering in Arid and Semiarid Areas, Ministry of Education, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Xianyang, China.,Institute of Water Saving Agriculture in Arid Regions of China, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Xianyang, China.,College of Water Resources and Architectural Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Xianyang, China
| | - Yali Yin
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Soil and Water Engineering in Arid and Semiarid Areas, Ministry of Education, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Xianyang, China.,Institute of Water Saving Agriculture in Arid Regions of China, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Xianyang, China.,College of Water Resources and Architectural Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Xianyang, China
| | - Kaixuan Wang
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Soil and Water Engineering in Arid and Semiarid Areas, Ministry of Education, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Xianyang, China.,Institute of Water Saving Agriculture in Arid Regions of China, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Xianyang, China.,College of Water Resources and Architectural Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Xianyang, China
| | - Jingxin Sun
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Soil and Water Engineering in Arid and Semiarid Areas, Ministry of Education, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Xianyang, China.,Institute of Water Saving Agriculture in Arid Regions of China, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Xianyang, China.,College of Water Resources and Architectural Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Xianyang, China
| | - Yihe Tang
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Soil and Water Engineering in Arid and Semiarid Areas, Ministry of Education, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Xianyang, China.,Institute of Water Saving Agriculture in Arid Regions of China, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Xianyang, China.,College of Water Resources and Architectural Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Xianyang, China
| | - Jinfeng Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Soil and Water Engineering in Arid and Semiarid Areas, Ministry of Education, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Xianyang, China.,Institute of Water Saving Agriculture in Arid Regions of China, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Xianyang, China.,College of Water Resources and Architectural Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Xianyang, China
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21
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Zhou Y, Liu K, Harrison MT, Fahad S, Gong S, Zhu B, Liu Z. Shifting Rice Cropping Systems Mitigates Ecological Footprints and Enhances Grain Yield in Central China. Front Plant Sci 2022; 13:895402. [PMID: 35599906 PMCID: PMC9115467 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.895402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Intensive cereal production has brought about increasingly serious environmental threats, including global warming, environmental acidification, and water shortage. As an important grain producer in the world, the rice cultivation system in central China has undergone excessive changes in the past few decades. However, few articles focused on the environmental impacts of these shifts from the perspective of ecological footprints. In this study, a 2-year field trial was carried out in Hubei province, China, to gain insight into carbon footprint (CF), nitrogen footprint (NF), and water footprint (WF) performance. The three treatments were, namely, double-rice system (DR), ratoon rice system (RR), and rice-wheat system (RW). Results demonstrated that RR significantly increased the grain yield by 10.22-15.09% compared with DR, while there was no significant difference in the grain yield between RW and DR in 2018-2019. All of the calculation results by three footprint approaches followed the order: RR < RW < DR; meanwhile, RR was always significantly lower than DR. Methane and NH3 field emissions were the hotspots of CF and NF, respectively. Blue WF accounts for 40.90-42.71% of DR, which was significantly higher than that of RR and RW, primarily because DR needs a lot of irrigation water in both seasons. The gray WF of RW was higher than those of DR and RR, mainly due to the higher application rate of N fertilizer. In conclusion, RR possesses the characteristics of low agricultural inputs and high grain yield and can reduce CF, NF, and WF, considering the future conditions of rural societal developments and rapid demographic changes; we highlighted that the RR could be a cleaner and sustainable approach to grain production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Zhou
- Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Grain Industry, College of Agriculture, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, China
- Hubei Province Research Center of Engineering Technology for Utilization of Botanical Functional Ingredients, College of Life Science and Technology, Hubei Engineering University, Xiaogan, China
| | - Ke Liu
- Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Grain Industry, College of Agriculture, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, China
- Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture, University of Tasmania, Burnie, TAS, Australia
| | - Matthew Tom Harrison
- Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture, University of Tasmania, Burnie, TAS, Australia
| | - Shah Fahad
- Hainan Key Laboratory for Sustainable Utilization of Tropical Bioresource, College of Tropical Crops, Hainan University, Haikou, China
- Department of Agronomy, The University of Haripur, Haripur, Pakistan
| | - Songling Gong
- Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Grain Industry, College of Agriculture, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, China
| | - Bo Zhu
- Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Grain Industry, College of Agriculture, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, China
| | - Zhangyong Liu
- Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Grain Industry, College of Agriculture, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, China
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22
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Ridoutt B, Baird D, Hendrie GA. Diets with Higher Vegetable Intake and Lower Environmental Impact: Evidence from a Large Australian Population Health Survey. Nutrients 2022; 14:nu14071517. [PMID: 35406130 PMCID: PMC9002518 DOI: 10.3390/nu14071517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2022] [Revised: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 04/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Increasing the consumption of vegetables is a public health nutrition priority in Australia. This must be achieved in the context of lowering dietary environmental impacts. In this study, a subgroup of 1700 Australian adult daily diets having a higher diet-quality score and a lower environmental impact score was isolated from Australian Health Survey data. These diets were primarily distinguished by their lower content of energy-dense/nutrient-poor discretionary foods. Among these diets, those with higher levels of vegetable intake were characterized by greater variety of vegetables eaten, lower intake of bread and cereal foods, and higher intake of red meat. These diets also had a greater likelihood of achieving recommended intakes for a range of vitamins and minerals. These findings highlighted the importance of considering the total diet in developing strategies to promote healthy and sustainable food consumption, as well as the need to understand the interrelationships between foods that exist in a local cultural context. As vegetables are usually eaten with other foods, higher vegetable consumption in Australia could be supported by encouraging more regular consumption of the types of meals that include larger quantities of vegetables. Our results showed that this was possible while also substantially lowering total dietary environmental impacts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bradley Ridoutt
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) Agriculture and Food, Clayton, VIC 3169, Australia
- Department of Agricultural Economics, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +61-3-9545-2159
| | - Danielle Baird
- CSIRO Health and Biosecurity, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia; (D.B.); (G.A.H.)
| | - Gilly A. Hendrie
- CSIRO Health and Biosecurity, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia; (D.B.); (G.A.H.)
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23
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Affiliation(s)
- Kei Nagai
- Department of Nephrology, Hitachi General Hospital, Hitachi, Japan.,Department of Nephrology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Norihiro Itsubo
- Faculty of Environmental and Information Studies, Tokyo City University, Yokohama, Japan
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24
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Penalver JG, Aldaya MM. The Role of the Food Banks in Saving Freshwater Resources through Reducing Food Waste: The Case of the Food Bank of Navarra, Spain. Foods 2022; 11:foods11020163. [PMID: 35053895 PMCID: PMC8775326 DOI: 10.3390/foods11020163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2021] [Revised: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 01/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
In the year 2011, the FAO estimated that food loss and waste reached one third of the total food produced worldwide. Since then, numerous studies have been published characterizing this problem and reflecting on its repercussions, not only social, but also environmental. Food wastage triggers unnecessary greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation or loss of biodiversity. This study aims to quantify the water-related benefits associated with food loss and waste reduction by studying the Food Bank of Navarra (FBN). For this purpose, the water footprint assessment manual has been followed. First, the water footprint of the activities of the FBN has been analysed for the year 2018 (scenario with the FBN). A comparative analysis has been carried out between the scenario with the FBN and a theoretical scenario without the action of the FBN. This has allowed us to highlight the benefits associated with the activity of this entity. The FBN not only avoided the waste of 2.7 thousand tons of food suitable for consumption in 2018, but also avoided the unnecessary use of more than 3.2 million m3 of freshwater. As a result of the present investigation, it can be stated that promoting food banks, which avoid food waste, would be an effective way to contribute to the protection and conservation of water resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josemi G. Penalver
- Arrosadia Campus, Public University of Navarra (UPNA), 31006 Pamplona, Spain;
| | - Maite M. Aldaya
- Arrosadia Campus, Institute for Sustainability & Food Chain Innovation (IS-FOOD), Public University of Navarra (UPNA), Jerónimo de Ayanz Building, 31006 Pamplona, Spain
- Correspondence:
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25
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de Pee S, Hardinsyah R, Jalal F, Kim BF, Semba RD, Deptford A, Fanzo JC, Ramsing R, Nachman KE, McKenzie S, Bloem MW. Balancing a sustained pursuit of nutrition, health, affordability and climate goals: exploring the case of Indonesia. Am J Clin Nutr 2021; 114:1686-1697. [PMID: 34477830 PMCID: PMC8574631 DOI: 10.1093/ajcn/nqab258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2020] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND To guide the transformation of food systems to provide for healthy and sustainable diets, countries need to assess their current diet and food supply in comparison to nutrition, health, affordability, and environmental goals. OBJECTIVES We sought to compare Indonesia's food utilization to diets optimized for nutritional value and cost and to diets that are increasingly plant-based in order to meet further health and environmental goals, including the EAT-Lancet planetary health diet, to explore whether multiple goals could be achieved simultaneously. METHODS We compared 13 dietary scenarios (2 current, 7 optimized, 3 increasingly plant-based, 1 EAT-Lancet) for nutrient content, cost, greenhouse gas emissions (GHGe), and water footprints, using the FAO food balance sheet, Indonesia Household Income and Expenditure Survey household food expenditure, food composition, life cycle assessment, food losses, and trade data. RESULTS The diversity of modeled scenarios was higher than that of current consumption, reflecting nutritional deficiencies underlying Indonesia's burden of different forms of malnutrition. Nutrient intake targets were met best by nutrient- and cost-optimized diets, followed by the EAT-Lancet diet. Those diets also had high GHGe, although less than 40% of a scenario in which Indonesia would adopt a typical high-income country's diet. Only the low food chain diet had a GHGe below the 2050 target set by the EAT-Lancet commission. Its nutrient content was comparable to that of a no-dairy diet, slightly above those of fish-and-poultry and current diets, and somewhat below those of the EAT-Lancet diets. To meet nutrient needs, some animal-source foods had to be included. Costs of all except the optimized diets were above the current national average food expenditure. No scenario met all goals simultaneously. CONCLUSIONS Indonesia's consumption of rice and unhealthy foods should decrease; food production, trade, and processing should prioritize diversification, (bio)fortification, and limiting environmental impacts; and consumer and institutional demands for healthy, nutritious, and sustainable foods should be stimulated. More granular data and tools are required to develop and assess more detailed scenarios to achieve multiple goals simultaneously.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saskia de Pee
- United Nations World Food Programme, Rome, Italy
- Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | | | - Brent F Kim
- Center for Livable Future, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Richard D Semba
- Center for Livable Future, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Amy Deptford
- United Nations World Food Programme, Rome, Italy
| | - Jessica C Fanzo
- Berman Institute of Bioethics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Rebecca Ramsing
- Center for Livable Future, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Keeve E Nachman
- Center for Livable Future, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Johns Hopkins Risk Sciences and Public Policy Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Shawn McKenzie
- Center for Livable Future, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Martin W Bloem
- Center for Livable Future, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
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26
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Torres N, Yu R, Martínez-Lüscher J, Kostaki E, Kurtural SK. Effects of Irrigation at Different Fractions of Crop Evapotranspiration on Water Productivity and Flavonoid Composition of Cabernet Sauvignon Grapevine. Front Plant Sci 2021; 12:712622. [PMID: 34539704 PMCID: PMC8440997 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.712622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2021] [Accepted: 08/06/2021] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Climate change models predict lower precipitation and higher air temperatures that will negatively affect viticultural regions. Irrigation of vineyards will be crucial for mitigating abiotic stress during the growing season. However, the environmental impact of irrigation requires consideration for ensuring its sustainability in the future. We evaluated the standard irrigation practices on grapevine water use efficiency, berry flavonoid composition, vineyard water footprint, and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi-grapevine symbiosis in two seasons with contrasting amounts of precipitation. The irrigation treatments consisted of weekly replacement of 25, 50, and 100% of crop evapotranspiration (ETc) during two growing seasons. Irrigation in grapevine vineyards mitigated the water scarcity when precipitation during the dormant season was not sufficient. The results provided field data supporting that despite the low rainfall recorded in one of the seasons, increasing the amount of irrigation was not advised, and replacing 50% ETc was sufficient. In this treatment, berry composition was improved with increased contents of total soluble solids, anthocyanins, and flavonols, and a stable flavonoid profile without an economic decrease in yield. In addition, with 50% ETc, the mycorrhizal symbiosis was not compromised and water resources were not highly impacted. Altogether, our results provide fundamental knowledge for viticulturists to design an appropriate irrigation schedule under the future warming scenarios with minimal environmental impact in semi-arid regions facing warming trends.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nazareth Torres
- Department of Viticulture and Enology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
- Department of Agronomy, Biotechnology and Food Science, Public University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Runze Yu
- Department of Viticulture and Enology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Johann Martínez-Lüscher
- Department of Viticulture and Enology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
- Semios Biotechnologies Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Evmorfia Kostaki
- Department of Viticulture and Enology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Sahap Kaan Kurtural
- Department of Viticulture and Enology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
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27
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Hossain I, Imteaz MA, Khastagir A. Water footprint: applying the water footprint assessment method to Australian agriculture. J Sci Food Agric 2021; 101:4090-4098. [PMID: 33368286 DOI: 10.1002/jsfa.11044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2020] [Revised: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 12/26/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Water footprint assessment is essential for the evaluation of water scarcity that considers both direct and indirect water consumption along the supply chain. This paper presents the estimation of water footprint for locally grown fruits and vegetables in Australia. Water footprint was calculated based on the framework developed in the Water Footprint Assessment Manual for the crops which are the most practicable to grow in Australia. Nine different crops (apples, grapes, tomatoes, oranges, peaches/nectarines, cherries, potatoes, carrots/turnips and almonds) in the agricultural industry were selected and identified as the most water-consumptive crop and least water-consumptive crop. For each type of crop, the three main water footprint components (blue, green, and grey water) were calculated. RESULTS It was found that almond had the highest water footprint (6671.96 m3 ton-1 ) and tomato had the lowest water footprint (212.24 m3 ton-1 ) in Australia. From the global comparison, it is revealed that total water footprint for Australian crops is much higher than the corresponding international average values, except for tomatoes, potatoes and almonds. Also, almonds had the highest water footprint among the nine crops investigated. CONCLUSION The study provides an insight into future sustainable cropping patterns in Australia, which suggest that tomatoes, carrots/turnips, potatoes and apples should continue to be grown in Australia, whereas stone fruit (e.g., almonds) should no longer be grown because of its high water footprint. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iqbal Hossain
- Department of Civil and Construction Engineering, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, Australia
| | - Monzur A Imteaz
- Department of Civil and Construction Engineering, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, Australia
| | - Anirban Khastagir
- School of Vocational Engineering, Health and Sciences, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia
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28
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Link A, Berger M, van der Ent R, Eisner S, Finkbeiner M. Considering the Fate of Evaporated Water Across Basin Boundaries-Implications for Water Footprinting. Environ Sci Technol 2021; 55:10231-10242. [PMID: 34264065 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c04526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Water consumption along value chains of goods and services has increased globally and led to increased attention on water footprinting. Most global water consumption is accounted for by evaporation (E), which is connected via bridges of atmospheric moisture transport to other regions on Earth. However, the resultant source-receptor relationships between different drainage basins have not yet been considered in water footprinting. Based on a previously developed data set on the fate of land evaporation, we aim to close this gap by using comprehensive information on evaporation recycling in water footprinting for the first time. By considering both basin internal evaporation recycling (BIER; >5% in 2% of the world's basins) and basin external evaporation recycling (BEER; >50% in 37% of the world's basins), we were able to use three types of water inventories (basin internal, basin external, and transboundary inventories), which imply different evaluation perspectives in water footprinting. Drawing on recently developed impact assessment methods, we produced characterization models for assessing the impacts of blue and green water evaporation on blue water availability for all evaluation perspectives. The results show that the negative effects of evaporation in the originating basins are counteracted (and partly overcompensated) by the positive effects of reprecipitation in receiving basins. By aggregating them, combined net impacts can be determined. While we argue that these offset results should not be used as a standalone evaluation, the water footprint community should consider atmospheric moisture recycling in future standards and guidelines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Link
- Chair of Sustainable Engineering, Technische Universität Berlin, Straße des 17. Juni 135, 10623 Berlin, Germany
| | - Markus Berger
- Chair of Sustainable Engineering, Technische Universität Berlin, Straße des 17. Juni 135, 10623 Berlin, Germany
| | - Ruud van der Ent
- Department of Water Management, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Delft University of Technology, P.O. Box 5048, 2600 GA Delft, The Netherlands
- Department of Physical Geography, Faculty of Geosciences, Utrecht University, P.O. Box 80.115, 3508 TC Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Stephanie Eisner
- Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research, P.O. Box 115, NO-1431 Ås, Norway
| | - Matthias Finkbeiner
- Chair of Sustainable Engineering, Technische Universität Berlin, Straße des 17. Juni 135, 10623 Berlin, Germany
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29
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Lares-Michel M, Housni FE, Aguilera Cervantes VG, Carrillo P, Michel Nava RM, Llanes Cañedo C. Eat Well to Fight Obesity… and Save Water: The Water Footprint of Different Diets and Caloric Intake and Its Relationship With Adiposity. Front Nutr 2021; 8:694775. [PMID: 34277688 PMCID: PMC8281344 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2021.694775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Water scarcity and excess adiposity are two of the main problems worldwide and in Mexico, which is the most obese country in the world and suffers from water scarcity. Food production represents 90% of a person's water footprint (WF), and healthy diets can lead to less WF than do unhealthy diets related to obesity. We calculated the WF of the diet and caloric intake of adults in Mexico and analyzed its relationship with adiposity. Also, the risk of water expenditure due to adiposity and adherence to dietary recommendations regarding WF of international healthy diets were examined. A Food Consumption Frequency Questionnaire (FCFQ) was applied to 395 adults. Body mass index (BMI), associated with adiposity indicators, was used as a reference for grouping a sample into adiposity levels. The WF was calculated according to the WF Assessment Method, considering correction factors and accounting for water involved in cooking and food washing. Our results showed that the Mexican diet spends 6,056 liters per person per day (L p-1d-1) and is 55% higher than international healthy diets WF. Consumption of beef, milk, fruits, chicken, and fatty cereals represented 56% of total WF. Strong relations appeared between hypercaloric diets and high WF. Diets of people with excess adiposity generated statistically higher WF with extra expenses of 729 L p-1d-1 compared with the normal adiposity population. Following nutritional recommendations offers a protective factor in water care, whereas not adhering to these represents a risk up to 93 times greater of water expenditure regarding international healthy diets. Therefore, both for the general population and to regulate obesity, adequate diets can help mitigate the problem of water scarcity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Lares-Michel
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Comportamiento Alimentario y Nutrición (IICAN), University Center of the South, University of Guadalajara, Ciudad Guzmán, Mexico
| | - Fatima Ezzahra Housni
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Comportamiento Alimentario y Nutrición (IICAN), University Center of the South, University of Guadalajara, Ciudad Guzmán, Mexico
| | - Virginia Gabriela Aguilera Cervantes
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Comportamiento Alimentario y Nutrición (IICAN), University Center of the South, University of Guadalajara, Ciudad Guzmán, Mexico
| | - Presentación Carrillo
- Instituto Universitario de Investigación del Agua, Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Rosa María Michel Nava
- Departamento de Sistemas y Computación, Tecnológico Nacional de México, Campus Ciudad Guzmán, Ciudad Guzmán, Mexico
| | - Claudia Llanes Cañedo
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Comportamiento Alimentario y Nutrición (IICAN), University Center of the South, University of Guadalajara, Ciudad Guzmán, Mexico
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30
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Di Donato M, Carpintero Ó. Household Food Metabolism: Losses, Waste and Environmental Pressures of Food Consumption at the Regional Level in Spain. Foods 2021; 10:foods10061166. [PMID: 34067431 PMCID: PMC8224788 DOI: 10.3390/foods10061166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2021] [Revised: 05/18/2021] [Accepted: 05/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Dealing with an increasing population is challenging the global food system not only in productive terms, but also through the associated environmental pressures. A growing diagnostic effort is being made by global and national agencies. Innovative approaches are needed to support effective policy efforts. This study aims to illustrate the potentialities of the household metabolism approach in the diagnosis of the environmental pressures derived from household food consumption, using the Spanish regions and the effects of the 2008 crisis as case studies. The direct information concerning food consumption in physical terms provided by the Spanish household budget survey is used to estimate some relevant environmental pressures (food losses and waste along the food chain, as well as water and carbon footprint) for the Spanish food system at a sub-national level. These data are directly translated into differences in environmental pressures and compared with other dietary profiles. Furthermore, the physical information of environmental pressures is related to household socio-economic status, showing the potentialities of the association with household socio-economic information. Finally, our data illustrate with some examples how the economic crisis has acted as a driver of change in food consumption, promoting a better environmental performance at the cost of poorer diets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica Di Donato
- FUHEM Ecosocial, Avda. de Portugal, 79, 2801 Madrid, Spain
- Research Group on Energy, Economics and System Dynamics (GEEDS), Paseo del Cauce, 59, 47011 Valladolid, Spain;
- Correspondence:
| | - Óscar Carpintero
- Research Group on Energy, Economics and System Dynamics (GEEDS), Paseo del Cauce, 59, 47011 Valladolid, Spain;
- Department of Applied Economics, Faculty of Economics and Business, Avda. Valle Esgueva, 6, 47011 Valladolid, Spain
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31
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Miglietta PP, De Leo F, Coluccia B, Vecchio Y, Capitanio F. Evaluation of Virtual Water and Water Sustainability of Dairy Production in Trentino Alto Adige (North-Eastern Italy). Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:1047. [PMID: 33917785 DOI: 10.3390/ani11041047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2021] [Revised: 04/02/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Dairy consumption is growing, and both the Italian production and the importation of dairy products are increasing to meet demand. As a first step toward understanding the environmental impacts of water use in the expanding dairy industry, the water footprint approach was used to compute the virtual water and water sustainability of dairy system in Trentino Alto Adige, a region characterized by small-scale farms and typical production. The results highlight that dairy products can be produced with minimal potential to contribute to freshwater scarcity. However, dairy production systems vary, both in production patterns and local environmental context. The development of dairy farming systems with high consumptive water requirements should be avoided in water-stressed regions and supported in particularly suitable regions, as Trentino Alto Adige. Abstract Dairy products play a significant role in the human diet, but they are often associated with high freshwater resource depletion. In Italy, the dairy sector represents more than 12% of the total turnover of the agri-food sector. Trentino Alto Adige is the first Italian region in terms of number of dairy farms, but it does not register a quantitatively consistent dairy production. Notwithstanding, it is characterized mostly by small-scale farms whose strengths are the Protected Designations of Origin and typical mountain productions. The present study aims at: (i) accounting for the virtual water VW of the main dairy products (milk, butter and cheese) produced in Trentino Alto Adige; (ii) estimating the renewable water resources based on the water flow assessment of the study area; (iii) assessing water sustainability comparing the virtual water consumption of the dairy sector at a regional level to the water availability. The findings show that the consumptive virtual water related to dairy production represents about 1% of the water availability in Trentino Alto Adige. Italy’s domestic dairy production is expanding to meet the growing demand, but the expansion of dairy farming in water-stressed regions should be avoided, preferring instead suitable mountain regions where small-scale farms represent a lively entrepreneurial substrate.
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32
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Liang Y, Han A, Chai L, Zhi H. Using the Machine Learning Method to Study the Environmental Footprints Embodied in Chinese Diet. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2020; 17:ijerph17197349. [PMID: 33050091 PMCID: PMC7579113 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17197349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2020] [Revised: 10/01/2020] [Accepted: 10/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The food system profoundly affects the sustainable development of the environment and resources. Numerous studies have shown that the food consumption patterns of Chinese residents will bring certain pressure to the environment. Food consumption patterns have individual differences. Therefore, reducing the pressure of food consumption patterns on the environment requires the precise positioning of people with high consumption tendencies. Based on the related concepts of the machine learning method, this paper designs an identification method of the population with a high environmental footprint by using a decision tree as the core and realizes the automatic identification of a large number of users. By using the microdata provided by CHNS(the China Health and Nutrition Survey), we study the relationship between residents’ dietary intake and environmental resource consumption. First, we find that the impact of residents’ food system on the environment shows a certain logistic normal distribution trend. Then, through the decision tree algorithm, we find that four demographic characteristics of gender, income level, education level, and region have the greatest impact on residents’ environmental footprint, where the consumption trends of different characteristics are also significantly different. At the same time, we also use the decision tree to identify the population characteristics with high consumption tendency. This method can effectively improve the identification coverage and accuracy rate and promotes the improvement of residents’ food consumption patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Liang
- College of Science, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China;
| | - Aixi Han
- International College Beijing, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China; (A.H.); (H.Z.)
| | - Li Chai
- International College Beijing, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China; (A.H.); (H.Z.)
- Chinese-Israeli International Center for Research and Training in Agriculture, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China
- Correspondence:
| | - Hong Zhi
- International College Beijing, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China; (A.H.); (H.Z.)
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33
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Tompa O, Lakner Z, Oláh J, Popp J, Kiss A. Is the Sustainable Choice a Healthy Choice?- Water Footprint Consequence of Changing Dietary Patterns. Nutrients 2020; 12:E2578. [PMID: 32854386 PMCID: PMC7551173 DOI: 10.3390/nu12092578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2020] [Revised: 08/19/2020] [Accepted: 08/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
It is evident that the modification of dietary patterns is a necessary precondition of disease prevention and health improvement. Changing nutritional habits also has deep-rooted consequences on the environmental burden. The majority of similar previous studies have analyzed the change in greenhouse gas emissions against theoretical modifications in current food consumption. The analysis on the effect of diet on the water footprint is also gaining in importance, since water supply is a critical global issue. Based on current nutritional patterns of a Central European country-Hungary-as well as dietary recommendations and scientific literature, we generated six dietary scenarios and determined the consequences of these on green (originally from precipitation) and blue (sourced from surface or groundwater) water consumption and dietary quality. Compared to the baseline scenario (current local nutritional pattern) of both genders, based on the integrated aspect of water footprint and dietary quality, the most disadvantageous scenario was the ketogenic (ca. -2% in dietary quality, +18% in blue water footprint, and +16% in green water footprint) and the most advantageous was the sustainable scenario (ca. +9% in dietary quality, -42% in green water footprint, and -29% in blue water footprint). As a summary it can be stated, that (1) there is no clear linear relationship between the "healthiness" and water footprint of different diets, but (2) a more balanced diet, which integrates nutritional and environmental considerations could decrease the environmental burden in an efficient way.
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Affiliation(s)
- Orsolya Tompa
- Department of Food Chain Management, Institute of Agribusiness, Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences, Szent István University, 2100 Gödöllő, Hungary; (O.T.); (Z.L.)
| | - Zoltán Lakner
- Department of Food Chain Management, Institute of Agribusiness, Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences, Szent István University, 2100 Gödöllő, Hungary; (O.T.); (Z.L.)
| | - Judit Oláh
- Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
- TRADE Research Entity, North-West University, Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, Vanderbijlpark 1900, South Africa;
| | - József Popp
- TRADE Research Entity, North-West University, Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, Vanderbijlpark 1900, South Africa;
- Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences, Szent István University, 2100 Gödöllő, Hungary
| | - Anna Kiss
- Institute of Health Promotion and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Education and Psychology, Eötvös Loránd University, 1117 Budapest, Hungary;
- Department Science Policy and Scientometrics, Library and Information Centre of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, 1051 Budapest, Hungary
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Korol J, Hejna A, Burchart-Korol D, Wachowicz J. Comparative Analysis of Carbon, Ecological, and Water Footprints of Polypropylene-Based Composites Filled with Cotton, Jute and Kenaf Fibers. Materials (Basel) 2020; 13:ma13163541. [PMID: 32796660 PMCID: PMC7476004 DOI: 10.3390/ma13163541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2020] [Revised: 08/03/2020] [Accepted: 08/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Composites containing natural fibers are considered environmentally friendly materials which is related to the reduced use of fossil fuels and the emission of carbon dioxide compared to petroleum-based polymers. Nevertheless, a complete evaluation of their environmental impact requires a broader view. This paper presents a carbon, ecological, and water footprints assessment of polypropylene-based composites filled with cotton, jute, and kenaf fibers based on a standardized European pallet (EUR-pallet) case study. Obtained results were compared with unmodified polypropylene and composite with glass fibers. Incorporation of 30 wt% of cotton, jute, and kenaf fibers into a polypropylene matrix reduced its carbon footprint by 3%, 18%, and 18%, respectively. Regarding the ecological footprint, an 8.2% and 9.4% reduction for jute and kenaf fibers were noted, while for cotton fibers, its value increased by 52%. For these footprints, the use of jute and kenaf fibers was more beneficial than glass fibers. Nevertheless, the application of natural fibers caused a 286%, 758%, and 891% drastic increase of water footprint of the final product, which was mainly affected by cultivation and irrigation of crops. Therefore, in a holistic view, the incorporation of natural fibers into the polypropylene matrix definitely cannot be impartially considered as an environmentally friendly solution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jerzy Korol
- Department of Material Engineering, Central Mining Institute, Pl. Gwarków 1, 40-166 Katowice, Poland;
- Correspondence: (J.K.); (D.B.-K.)
| | - Aleksander Hejna
- Department of Polymer Technology, Gdansk University of Technology, Narutowicza 11/12, 80-233 Gdansk, Poland;
| | - Dorota Burchart-Korol
- Faculty of Transport and Aviation Engineering, Silesian University of Technology, Krasińskiego 8, 40-019 Katowice, Poland
- Correspondence: (J.K.); (D.B.-K.)
| | - Jan Wachowicz
- Department of Material Engineering, Central Mining Institute, Pl. Gwarków 1, 40-166 Katowice, Poland;
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Shi C, Yuan H, Pang Q, Zhang Y. Research on the Decoupling of Water Resources Utilization and Agricultural Economic Development in Gansu Province from the Perspective of Water Footprint. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2020; 17:E5758. [PMID: 32784903 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17165758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2020] [Revised: 08/03/2020] [Accepted: 08/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Objectively evaluating the decoupling status of water resources utilization and economic development is an important sign of judging the sustainability of regional economic development. From the perspective of water footprint (WF), this paper expands the scope of water resources accounting by assessing agricultural blue WF, green WF and gray WF. The Tapio decoupling index was used to explore the decoupling status of agricultural WF and economic development in Gansu Province from 2006 to 2015, and the logarithmic mean divisor index (LMDI) decomposition model was used to identify the main driving factors of agricultural WF changes and explore the degree of divergence between agricultural economic development and water resources utilization. The results showed that agricultural economic growth was a main factor for the increase of WF; the improvement of agricultural production technology had a restraining effect, and the population effect and structural effect had a lesser effect. During the research period, the relationship between agricultural WF and economic growth in Gansu Province changed from weak decoupling to strong decoupling, and the contributing factors to decoupling were in descending order: economic, technological, structural and population. Finally, this paper puts forward suggestions on optimizing planting structure, improving agricultural technology and economic development mode to promote the sustainable development of local agriculture.
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Han A, Chai L, Liao X. Demographic Scenarios of Future Environmental Footprints of Healthy Diets in China. Foods 2020; 9:foods9081021. [PMID: 32751477 PMCID: PMC7466210 DOI: 10.3390/foods9081021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2020] [Revised: 07/26/2020] [Accepted: 07/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Dietary improvement not only benefits human health conditions, but also offers the potential to reduce the human food system’s environmental impact. With the world’s largest population and people’s bourgeoning lifestyle, China’s food system is set to impose increasing pressures on the environment. We evaluated the minimum environmental footprints, including carbon footprint (CF), water footprint (WF) and ecological footprint (EF), of China’s food systems into 2100. The minimum footprints of healthy eating are informative to policymakers when setting the environmental constraints for food systems. The results demonstrate that the minimum CF, WF and EF all increase in the near future and peak around 2030 to 2035, under different population scenarios. After the peak, population decline and aging result in decreasing trends of all environmental footprints until 2100. Considering age-gender specific nutritional needs, the food demands of teenagers in the 14–17 year group require the largest environmental footprints across the three indicators. Moreover, men’s nutritional needs also lead to larger environmental footprints than women’s across all age groups. By 2100, the minimum CF, WF and EF associated with China’s food systems range from 616 to 899 million tons, 654 to 953 km3 and 6513 to 9500 billion gm2 respectively under different population scenarios. This study builds a bridge between demography and the environmental footprints of diet and demonstrates that the minimum environmental footprints of diet could vary by up to 46% in 2100 under different demographic scenarios. The results suggest to policymakers that setting the environmental constraints of food systems should be integrated with the planning of a future demographic path.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aixi Han
- International College Beijing, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China;
| | - Li Chai
- International College Beijing, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China;
- Chinese-Israeli International Center for Research and Training in Agriculture, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China
- Correspondence: (L.C.); (X.L.)
| | - Xiawei Liao
- College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
- School of Environment and Energy, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, University Town, Shenzhen 518055, China
- Correspondence: (L.C.); (X.L.)
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Cao Y, Chai L, Yan X, Liang Y. Drivers of the Growing Water, Carbon and Ecological Footprints of the Chinese Diet from 1961 to 2017. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2020; 17:E1803. [PMID: 32164299 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17051803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2020] [Revised: 03/06/2020] [Accepted: 03/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
In the past decades, food consumption in China has undergone a rapid increase and a significant structure transition, as a result of population growth and economic development. The food system is increasingly threatening the environment by depleting water resources, deteriorating water bodies, aggravating climate change, degrading ecosystems, etc. It is significant to understand how food consumption affected the environment and how its impacts were driven in the historical period. This study reveals the environmental impacts of China's food system from 1961 to 2017 from a consumption perspective by assessing water, carbon, and ecological footprints. The logarithmic mean Divisia index method was used to examine the drivers of the growing environmental footprints. The assessment results show that all three environmental footprints have had a drastic increase of more than two times during the studied period, which indicates the high environmental pressure posed by food consumption. We also found that, before the 1980s, the main driving forces of the increasing footprints were population and per capita energy intake. From 1984, the diet pattern started to take a positive effect and then became the dominant driver of the growing environmental footprints after the end of the 1990s.
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Su Y, Guo B, Zhou Z, Zhong Y, Min L. Spatio-Temporal Variations in Groundwater Revealed by GRACE and Its Driving Factors in the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain, China. Sensors (Basel) 2020; 20:s20030922. [PMID: 32050517 PMCID: PMC7039387 DOI: 10.3390/s20030922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2020] [Revised: 02/02/2020] [Accepted: 02/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The Huang-Huai-Hai (3H) Plain is the major crop-producing region in China. Due to the long-term overexploitation of groundwater for irrigation, the groundwater funnel is constantly expanding and the scarcity of water resources is prominent in this region. In this study, Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) and hydrological models were used to estimate the spatial-temporal changes of groundwater storage (GWS) and the driving factors of GWS variations were discussed in the 3H Plain. The results showed that GRACE-based GWS was depleted at a rate of -1.14 ± 0.89 cm/y in the 3H Plain during 2003 to 2015. The maximum negative anomaly occurred in spring due to agricultural irrigation activities. Spatially, the loss of GWS in the Haihe River Basin is more serious than that in the Huaihe River Basin, presenting a decreasing trend from south to north. Conversely, the blue water footprint (WFblue) of wheat exhibited an increasing trend from south to north. During the drought years of 2006, 2013, and 2014, more groundwater was extracted to offset the surface water shortage, leading to an accelerated decline in GWS. This study demonstrated that GWS depletion in the 3H Plain is well explained by reduced precipitation and groundwater abstraction due to anthropogenic irrigation activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youzhe Su
- Key Laboratory of Geomatics and Digital Technology of Shandong Province, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266590, China; (Y.S.); (Z.Z.)
- College of Geomatics, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266590, China
| | - Bin Guo
- Key Laboratory of Geomatics and Digital Technology of Shandong Province, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266590, China; (Y.S.); (Z.Z.)
- College of Geomatics, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266590, China
- Correspondence:
| | - Ziteng Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Geomatics and Digital Technology of Shandong Province, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266590, China; (Y.S.); (Z.Z.)
- College of Geomatics, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266590, China
| | - Yulong Zhong
- School of Geography and Information Engineering, China University of Geosciences (Wuhan), Wuhan 430078, China;
| | - Leilei Min
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Water Resources, Center for Agricultural Resources Research, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shijiazhuang 050021, China;
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Cazcarro I, Bielsa J. Blind Spots in Water Management, and How Natural Sciences Could Be Much More Relevant. Front Plant Sci 2020; 10:1742. [PMID: 32117335 PMCID: PMC7011090 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2019.01742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2019] [Accepted: 12/11/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Ignacio Cazcarro
- Fundacion Agencia Aragonesa para la Investigacion y el Desarrollo (ARAID), Zaragoza, Spain
- Department of Economic Analysis, Faculty of Economics and Business Studies, Agrifood Institute of Aragon (IA2), Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Jorge Bielsa
- Department of Economic Analysis, Faculty of Economics and Business Studies, Agrifood Institute of Aragon (IA2), Zaragoza, Spain
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Ferrio JP, Dubbert M, Máguas C. Editorial: The Green Side of the Water Cycle: New Advances in the Study of Plant Water Dynamics. Front Plant Sci 2020; 11:582846. [PMID: 32983225 PMCID: PMC7492972 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.582846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2020] [Accepted: 08/19/2020] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Juan Pedro Ferrio
- Aragon Agency for Research and Development (ARAID), Zaragoza, Spain
- Department of Forest Resources, Agrifood Research and Technology Centre of Aragon (CITA), Zaragoza, Spain
- *Correspondence: Juan Pedro Ferrio,
| | - Maren Dubbert
- Ecosystem Physiology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Landscape Ecohydrology, IGB Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Cristina Máguas
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes (cE3c), Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
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Kong Y, He W, Yuan L, Shen J, An M, Degefu DM, Gao X, Zhang Z, Sun F, Wan Z. Decoupling Analysis of Water Footprint and Economic Growth: A Case Study of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region from 2004 to 2017. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2019; 16:E4873. [PMID: 31816978 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16234873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2019] [Revised: 11/25/2019] [Accepted: 11/27/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The Beijing-Tianji-Hebei region (BTHR) is economically developed and densely populated, but its water resources are extremely scarce. A clear understanding of the decoupling relationship between water footprint and economic growth is conducive to facilitating and realizing the coordinated development of water resources and economic growth in this region. This study calculated the water footprint and other related indicators of BTHR from 2004 to 2017, and objectively evaluated the utilization of water resources in the region. Then, logarithmic mean divisia index (LMDI) method was applied to study the driving factors that resulted in the change of water footprint and their respective effects. Finally, Tapio decoupling model was used to research the decoupling relationships between water footprint and economic growth, and between the driving factors of water footprint and economic growth. There are three main results in this research. (1) The water utilization efficiency in BTHR continues to improve, and the water footprint shows a gradually increasing trend during the research period, among which the agricultural water footprint accounts for a relatively high proportion. (2) The change of water footprint can be attributed to efficiency effect, economic effect, and population effect. Furthermore, efficiency effect is the decisive factor of water footprint reduction and economic effect is the main factor of water footprint increase, while population effect plays a weak role in promoting the increase in water footprint. (3) The decoupling status between water footprint and economic growth show a weak decoupling in most years, while the status between water footprint intensity and economic growth always remains strong decoupling. Moreover, population size and economic growth always show an expansive coupling state. In sum, it is advisable for policy makers to improve water utilization efficiency, especially agricultural irrigation efficiency, to raise residents' awareness of water conservation, and increase the import of water-intensive products, so as to alleviate water shortage and realize the coordinated development of water resources and economic growth in BTHR.
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Korol J, Hejna A, Burchart-Korol D, Chmielnicki B, Wypiór K. Water Footprint Assessment of Selected Polymers, Polymer Blends, Composites, and Biocomposites for Industrial Application. Polymers (Basel) 2019; 11:polym11111791. [PMID: 31683877 PMCID: PMC6918390 DOI: 10.3390/polym11111791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2019] [Revised: 10/21/2019] [Accepted: 10/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
This paper presents a water footprint assessment of polymers, polymer blends, composites, and biocomposites based on a standardized EUR-pallet case study. The water footprint analysis is based on life cycle assessment (LCA). The study investigates six variants of EUR-pallet production depending on the materials used. The system boundary included the production of each material and the injection molding to obtain a standardized EUR-pallet of complex properties. This paper shows the results of a water footprint of six composition variants of analyzed EUR-pallet, produced from biocomposites and composites based on polypropylene, poly(lactic acid), cotton fibers, jute fibers, kenaf fibers, and glass fibers. Additionally, a water footprint of applied raw materials was evaluated. The highest water footprint was observed for cotton fibers as a reinforcement of the analyzed biocomposites and composites. The water footprint of cotton fibers is caused by the irrigation of cotton crops. The results demonstrate that the standard EUR-pallet produced from polypropylene with glass fibers as reinforcement can contribute to the lowest water footprint.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jerzy Korol
- Department of Material Engineering, Central Mining Institute, Pl. Gwarków 1, 40-166 Katowice, Poland.
| | - Aleksander Hejna
- Department of Material Engineering, Central Mining Institute, Pl. Gwarków 1, 40-166 Katowice, Poland.
- Department of Polymer Technology, Gdansk University of Technology, Narutowicza 11/12, 80-233 Gdansk, Poland.
| | - Dorota Burchart-Korol
- Faculty of Transport and Aviation Engineering, Silesian University of Technology, Krasińskiego 8, 40-019 Katowice, Poland.
| | - Błażej Chmielnicki
- Paint & Plastics Department in Gliwice, Institute for Engineering of Polymer Materials and Dyes, 50 A Chorzowska Street, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland.
| | - Klaudiusz Wypiór
- Department of Material Engineering, Central Mining Institute, Pl. Gwarków 1, 40-166 Katowice, Poland.
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Zhang Y, Tian Q, Hu H, Yu M. Water Footprint of Food Consumption by Chinese Residents. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2019; 16:E3979. [PMID: 31635275 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16203979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2019] [Revised: 10/14/2019] [Accepted: 10/16/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Water shortages are a worldwide problem. Virtual water and the water footprint link water resources, human beings and agricultural products, and are effective tools to alleviate water-resources stress. The production of agricultural products consumes a large amount of water, and food is the most basic consumer good for human survival, so it is very necessary to study the water footprint of residents’ food consumption, which is also the weak point of current research on virtual water and the water footprint. This paper aimed to conduct a comprehensive analysis on the water footprint of food consumption in China from the perspectives of urban and rural residents, per capita water footprint, water footprint structure and food consumption structure. The results revealed that the average water footprint of residents’ food consumption was 605.12 billion m3/year, basically showing an upward trend. Guangdong residents had the highest water footprint for food consumption due to the highest population and higher consumption of water-intensive foodstuffs such as grain and meat in their diet. The water footprint of Xizang residents’ food consumption was the lowest followed by Ningxia and Qinghai due to having the least population. The water footprint of food consumption consumed by urban residents was on the rise while that consumed by rural residents was on the decline in China, which was consistent with the changing trend of population. On the whole, the rural population consumed more virtual water embedded in food than the urban population. From the water footprint structure point, the contribution rate of the green water footprint is the largest, reaching 69.36%. The second is the gray water footprint and then the blue water footprint, accounting for 18.71% and 11.93%, respectively. From the perspective of the food consumption structure, grain and pig, beef and mutton consumption contributed significantly to the total water footprint of residents’ food consumption, contributing 37.5% and 22.56%, respectively. The study is helpful for water management and water allocation in rural and urban areas, improving agricultural technology to reduce the gray water footprint and optimizing food consumption structure, such as reducing the consumption of grain and meat.
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Ridoutt BG, Baird D, Anastasiou K, Hendrie GA. Diet Quality and Water Scarcity: Evidence from a Large Australian Population Health Survey. Nutrients 2019; 11:nu11081846. [PMID: 31404949 PMCID: PMC6723970 DOI: 10.3390/nu11081846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2019] [Revised: 08/05/2019] [Accepted: 08/07/2019] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
There is widespread interest in dietary strategies that lower environmental impacts. However, various forms of malnutrition are also widely prevalent. In a first study of its kind, we quantify the water-scarcity footprint and diet quality score of a large (>9000) population of self-selected adult daily diets. Here, we show that excessive consumption of discretionary foods—i.e., energy-dense and nutrient-poor foods high in saturated fat, added sugars and salt, and alcohol—contributes up to 36% of the water-scarcity impacts and is the primary factor differentiating healthier diets with lower water-scarcity footprint from poorer quality diets with higher water-scarcity footprint. For core food groups (fruits, vegetables, etc.), large differences in water-scarcity footprint existed between individual foods, making difficult the amendment of dietary guidelines for water-scarcity impact reduction. Very large reductions in dietary water-scarcity footprint are possible, but likely best achieved though technological change, product reformulation and procurement strategies in the agricultural and food industries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bradley G Ridoutt
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) Agriculture and Food, Clayton South, VIC 3168, Australia.
- Department of Agricultural Economics, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa.
| | - Danielle Baird
- CSIRO Health and Biosecurity, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
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Navarrete-Molina C, Meza-Herrera CA, Ramirez-Flores JJ, Herrera-Machuca MA, Lopez-Villalobos N, Lopez-Santiago MA, Veliz-Deras FG. Economic evaluation of the environmental impact of a dairy cattle intensive production cluster under arid lands conditions. Animal 2019; 13:2379-87. [PMID: 30880657 DOI: 10.1017/S175173111900048X] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
At a global level, dairy cow production systems (DCPS) are important sources of nourishment and profits, but they generate environmental impacts such as overexploitation of different resources including water, lands and fossil energy. Quantification of water and carbon footprint to define mitigation strategies and a more rational use of natural resources, is a reiterated claim. The aim of this study was to perform an economic evaluation of the environmental impact of the DCPS from the Comarca Lagunera, Mexico (24°N, 102°W, 220 mm, hot-semiarid climate) We contrasted the economic value (EV) generated by the DCPS with respect to the economic costs (EC) due to the greenhouse gas emissions (GHGE) and the water footprint (WFP) of this DCPS. While quantifications of GHGE considered those proposed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the WFP involved the use of blue, gray and green water by the DCPS and related activities. Quantification of the EC of WFP considered an international average price of water. In the year 2017, the Comarca Lagunera registered a dairy cow inventory of 493 144 heads, with 227 142 lactating cows, which produced 2386 million liters of milk per year with an annual average EV of €525.3 million. The EC (€, millions) generated by the GHGE and WFP were €311.8 and €11 980.7, respectively, with a total EC of € 12 292.5 million. When the EV of milk production and the total environmental EC are compared, the contrast demonstrates not only the noteworthy environmental impact but also the significant and senseless biological and EC. In addition, having a large dairy cow concentration creates pollution concerns and the DCPS transfers both nutrients and water resources from an ecologically vulnerable arid region. Therefore, some mitigation strategies such as, better cow genotype, feed and manure management combined with the production of forages and grains in a different geographical region are suggested to promote an optimum use of water in order to uphold the social, economic and biologic sustainability of the Comarca Lagunera, Mexico.
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Wu X, Degefu DM, Yuan L, Liao Z, He W, An M, Zhang Z. Assessment of Water Footprints of Consumption and Production in Transboundary River Basins at Country-Basin Mesh-Based Spatial Resolution. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2019; 16:E703. [PMID: 30818781 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16050703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2018] [Revised: 02/07/2019] [Accepted: 02/23/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Water is unevenly distributed globally. This uneven distribution is the reason behind the differences among geographical areas in terms of their water footprint of consumption and production. This gives the global trade of goods a unique feature. This characteristic of the water footprint might be used to address water scarcity and conflicts because water availability also has the same trend. Transboundary river basins are freshwater resources with a high probability of water scarcity and conflict because the water is claimed by multiple sovereign countries. In order to design sharing mechanisms for transboundary river basins that incorporate virtual water concept, it is key to identify the virtual water balance of country-basin units. A study addressing this research gap is not yet available. This article identified and discussed net virtual water importer and exporter sub-basins of transboundary rivers at a country-basin mesh based spatial resolution. The results of our study show that out of the 565 country-basin units surveyed in this article 391, 369, and 461 are net gray, green, and blue virtual water importers respectively. These sub-basins covers 58.37%, 47.52% and 57.52% of the total area covered by transboundary river basins and includes 0.65, 1.9, and around 2 billion people, respectively. The results depict that not only the water endowment of sub-basins is a determining factor for their water footprint of consumption and production, but also their social, economic, and demographic profiles. Furthermore, the water footprint of consumption and production within most of the country-basin units have a global feature. Hence, sustainable water management schemes within border-crossing basins should take into account not only the local but also the global water footprints of consumption and production. This can offer more options for sharing transboundary river basins water capital, thereby minimizing the probability of water scarcity and water conflicts.
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Schyns JF, Hoekstra AY, Booij MJ, Hogeboom RJ, Mekonnen MM. Limits to the world's green water resources for food, feed, fiber, timber, and bioenergy. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019; 116:4893-8. [PMID: 30804199 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1817380116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 123] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Precipitation over land partitions into runoff via surface water and groundwater (blue water) and evapotranspiration (green water). We expand the traditional debate on water scarcity, which solely focuses on blue water, by assessing green water scarcity. The current debate on water scarcity is heavily skewed, since it leaves unnoticed the bulk of water availability––which is green––and the bulk of water use––which is also green. Green water is the main source of water to produce food, feed, fiber, timber, and bioenergy. Thus, to understand how freshwater scarcity constrains the production of these vital goods, explicating and including (limits to) green water use is imperative. Green water––rainfall over land that eventually flows back to the atmosphere as evapotranspiration––is the main source of water to produce food, feed, fiber, timber, and bioenergy. To understand how freshwater scarcity constrains production of these goods, we need to consider limits to the green water footprint (WFg), the green water flow allocated to human society. However, research traditionally focuses on scarcity of blue water––groundwater and surface water. Here we expand the debate on water scarcity by considering green water scarcity (WSg). At 5 × 5 arc-minute spatial resolution, we quantify WFg and the maximum sustainable level to this footprint (WFg,m), while accounting for green water requirements to support biodiversity. We then estimate WSg per country as the ratio of the national aggregate WFg to the national aggregate WFg,m. We find that globally WFg amounts to 56% of WFg,m, and overshoots it in several places, for example in countries in Europe, Central America, the Middle East, and South Asia. The sustainably available green water flows in these countries are mostly or fully allocated to human activities (predominately agriculture and forestry), occasionally at the cost of green water flows earmarked for nature. By ignoring limits to the growing human WFg, we risk further loss of ecosystem values that depend on the remaining untouched green water flows. We emphasize that green water is a critical and limited resource that should explicitly be part of any assessment of water scarcity, food security, or bioenergy potential.
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Liu G, Hu F, Wang Y, Wang H. Assessment of Lexicographic Minimax Allocations of Blue and Green Water Footprints in the Yangtze River Economic Belt Based on Land, Population, and Economy. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2019; 16:E643. [PMID: 30795613 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16040643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2018] [Revised: 02/14/2019] [Accepted: 02/19/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
To assess different impacts of land, population and economy factors on the lexicographic minimax optimal allocation of blue and green water footprints, a comprehensive discriminant rule is constructed in this paper based on the Gini coefficient and Theil entropy index. The proposed rule is employed to estimate the influence of the aforesaid factors (land, population and economy) on the corresponding allocation schemes from a fairness perspective. To demonstrate its applicability, the proposed approach is applied to a water resources allocation study for 11 provinces in the Yangtze River Economic Belt (YREB). The results indicate that: (1) the economy-based lexicographic allocation of water footprints (LAWF) is more equalitarian for the provinces with high water footprint quotas. The land area-based LAWF is more equalitarian for the provinces with low water footprint quotas. The population-based LAWF is more equalitarian for the provinces with medium water footprint quotas. (2) The contribution of intra-regional variation in the population-based LAWF scheme is the largest of the three schemes. The inter-regional variation contributed the largest in the land area-based LAWF scheme. (3) Two synthetic schemes which integrate multiple factors among land area, economy and population are more equalitarian than the three single-factor schemes. Compared with the original situation which is an equalitarian but ineffective allocation, the two synthetic schemes have greater effect on the improvement of the supply-demand balance of water resources carrying capacity. Therefore, the defect of the population, economy and land area factors acting alone should be resolved by designing a weighting system, in order to optimize the allocation of water resources.
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Liu J, Wu M, Yu Z. Evaluation of Environmental Impacts Due to Blue Water Consumption in China from Production and Consumption Perspectives. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2018; 15:E2445. [PMID: 30400166 PMCID: PMC6267180 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph15112445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2018] [Revised: 10/29/2018] [Accepted: 10/29/2018] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Current environmental impact analyses are mainly focused on land, soil, energy, and material consumption, while studies regarding blue water consumption are scarce. Based on the water footprint concept, this study evaluates the impacts of blue water consumption on human health, ecosystem quality, and water resources in China from the production and consumption perspective, respectively. The results indicate that environmental impacts due to blue water consumption in China were 15.82 × 10⁶ DALY (disability-adjusted life years), 96.54 × 10⁸ m²∙year, and 175.20 × 10⁸ MJ, and provinces such as Xinjiang, Shandong, and Hebei could be targets for achieving smaller environmental impacts in the future. More than 80% of environmental impacts were related to the agricultural sector. In terms of agricultural production, about 70% of the environmental impacts were related to product export. Measures such as the shift of the agricultural production pattern from water-intensive crops and animal products toward less water-intensive ones, the increase of agricultural water use efficiency, and the adoption of water-saving technologies could contribute to smaller environmental impacts. In terms of agricultural consumption, more than 95% of the environmental impacts were related to agricultural products produced locally. The focus was on increasing awareness of the importance of saving water and whether products were imported from regions with relatively small environmental impacts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Hydrology-Water Resources and Hydraulic Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, Jiangsu, China.
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Global Change and Water Cycle, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, Jiangsu, China.
- College of Hydrology and Water Resources, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Mengyang Wu
- College of Agricultural Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Zhongbo Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Hydrology-Water Resources and Hydraulic Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, Jiangsu, China.
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Global Change and Water Cycle, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, Jiangsu, China.
- College of Hydrology and Water Resources, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, Jiangsu, China.
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Lalić B, Firanj Sremac A, Eitzinger J, Stričević R, Thaler S, Maksimović I, Daničić M, Perišić D, Dekić L. Seasonal forecasting of green water components and crop yield of summer crops in Serbia and Austria. J Agric Sci 2018; 156:658-672. [PMID: 30369629 PMCID: PMC6199546 DOI: 10.1017/s0021859618000047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2017] [Revised: 11/24/2017] [Accepted: 01/15/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
A probabilistic crop forecast based on ensembles of crop model output estimates, presented here, offers an ensemble of possible realizations and probabilistic forecasts of green water components, crop yield and green water footprints (WFs) on seasonal scales for selected summer crops. The present paper presents results of an ongoing study related to the application of ensemble forecasting concepts in crop production. Seasonal forecasting of crop water use indicators (evapotranspiration (ET), water productivity, green WF) and yield of rainfed summer crops (maize, spring barley and sunflower), was performed using the AquaCrop model and ensemble weather forecast, provided by The European Centre for Medium-range Weather Forecast. The ensemble of estimates obtained was tested with observation-based simulations to assess the ability of seasonal weather forecasts to ensure that accuracy of the simulation results was the same as for those obtained using observed weather data. Best results are obtained for ensemble forecast for yield, ET, water productivity and green WF for sunflower in Novi Sad (Serbia) and maize in Groß-Enzersdorf (Austria) - average root mean square error (2006-2014) was <10% of observation-based values of selected variables. For variables yielding a probability distribution, capacity to reflect the distribution from which their outcomes will be drawn was tested using an Ignorance score. Average Ignorance score, for all locations, crops and variables varied from 1.49 (spring barley ET in Groß-Enzersdorf) to 3.35 (sunflower water productivity in Groß-Enzersdorf).
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Affiliation(s)
- B. Lalić
- Faculty of Agriculture, University of Novi Sad, Dositej Obradovic Sq. 8, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - A. Firanj Sremac
- Faculty of Agriculture, University of Novi Sad, Dositej Obradovic Sq. 8, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - J. Eitzinger
- Institute of Meteorology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Gregor Mendel Str. 33, A-1180 Vienna, Austria
| | - R. Stričević
- Faculty of Agriculture, University of Belgrade, Nemanjina 6, 11080, Serbia
| | - S. Thaler
- Institute of Meteorology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Gregor Mendel Str. 33, A-1180 Vienna, Austria
| | - I. Maksimović
- Faculty of Agriculture, University of Novi Sad, Dositej Obradovic Sq. 8, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - M. Daničić
- Faculty of Agriculture, University of Novi Sad, Dositej Obradovic Sq. 8, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - D. Perišić
- Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad, Dositej Obradovic Sq. 4, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Lj. Dekić
- Republic Hydrometeorological Service of Serbia, Kneza Višeslava 66, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
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