Download The Food System from an Engineering Perspective

THE FOOD SYSTEM
FROM AN
ENGINEERING
PERSPECTIVE
DR. RR DUPONT, PROFESSOR CIVIL &
ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING
Outline of Presentation
Something About Me
Some Questions for You
Agriculture from
Science/Engineering
Perspective
Key Issues from
Environmental Science
Perspective
About Me
Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Joined UWRL & CEE in 1982
Teaching and Research
Solid & Haz. Waste Mgmt.
Wastewater Engineering
Pollution Prevention & Industrial Ecology
Professional Ethics & Sustainability
Some Questions for You
Does it Matter What We Eat?
Is there a Big Difference in the
Environmental Impact of the
Food We Choose?
Why or Why Not?
What Impacts are Relevant to
Consider?
Is There a Relationship Between
the Nutritional Value of Our Food
and Its Environmental Impact?
More Questions
What is the Agricultural/Food
System?
Are There Points Within It
that We as Individuals Can
Make a Difference?
Is Our Current System
Sustainable?
Do We Have ANY
Responsibility to Improve
OUR Environmental
Footprint and What is the
Role of Our Interaction
Within the Agricultural/Food
System in Doing That?
Agriculture from
Science/Engineering
Perspective
Engineering is Applied
Science
Engineering is Concerned
about Efficiency of Material
& Energy Use through LifeCycle of Things we Produce
and Use Enlightened
Engineering is Focused on
Using a SYSTEMS
APPROACH for All
Problems
Agriculture/Food is a
Complex SYSTEM
AGRICULTURAL/FOOD SYSTEM
Engineering/Science
Concerns
Required Inputs of Materials
Quantities
Efficiency of Use (Source
Reduction)
“Renewability” (Recycling)
Impacts on the Human Health &
the Environment During
Production
Systems or Approaches to
Increase Efficiency, Reduce
Impact w/Out Compromising
Function
Engineering/Science
Concerns
Production of Waste from
Inefficiency of Use in
Production
Quantities
“Renewability”
Impacts on the Human Health &
the Environment as Waste
Systems or Approaches to
Reduce Impact and Put Back
Resources into Raw Material
or Input Stream
Engineering/Science
Concerns
Production of Waste from
Inefficiency of Use in
Consumption
Quantities
“Renewability” (Recycling)
Their Impacts on the Human Health
& the Environment as Waste
Systems or Approaches to Reduce
Waste in Consumption - Multiplier
Effect in Reducing Demand &
Inefficiencies & Impacts in
Production
How Critical is Last Issue
of Food Waste?
Food Waste in U.S. and
World Significant Proportion
of What is Produced!
Production is Costly
Waste is Costly
Malnutrition is Widespread
Key Issues from
Environmental Science
Perspective
Environmental Impact of Input to Agricultural/Food
System
Energy
Materials (Water, Nutrients,
Pesticides/Herbicides/Fungicides)
Environmental Impact of Waste During Production
Environmental Impact of Waste During Consumption
General Lack of Consumer Knowledge of
Environmental Issues & their Significance
LIFE-CYCLE APPROACH TO AG/FOOD
SUSTAINABILITY
WHAT IS OUR ROLE IN THIS?
FOOD SYSTEMS ENERGY USE
WHAT DOES THIS TELL US?
WATER FOOTPRINT OF OUR FOOD
WHAT DOES THIS TELL US?
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN NUTRITION &
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF OUR FOOD
INDIVIDUAL CHOICE MAKES A HUGE DIFFERENCE
WHAT TO STRIVE FOR - SUSTAINABLE FOOD
SYSTEMS