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Kirwan LB, Walton J, Flynn A, Nugent AP, Kearney J, Holden NM, McNulty BA. Assessment of the Environmental Impact of Food Consumption in Ireland-Informing a Transition to Sustainable Diets. Nutrients 2023; 15:nu15040981. [PMID: 36839346 PMCID: PMC9958966 DOI: 10.3390/nu15040981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2023] [Revised: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Dietary changes are required to mitigate the climatic impact of food consumption. Food consumption databases can support the development of sustainable food based dietary guidelines (SFBDG) when linked to environmental indicators. An improved knowledge base is crucial to the transition to sustainable diets, and multiple environmental indicators should be considered to ensure this transition is evidence based and accounts for trade-offs. The current study aimed to quantify the environmental impact of daily diets across population groups in Ireland. Nationally representative food consumption surveys for Irish children (NCFSII; 2017-2018), teenagers (NTFSII; 2019-2020), and adults (NANS; 2008-2010) were used in this analysis. Blue water use (L) and greenhouse gas emissions (GHGe; kgCO2eq) were assigned at food level to all surveys. Cropland (m2), nitrogen (kgN/t), and phosphorous use (kgP/t) were assigned at the agricultural level for adults. Multiple linear regressions, Spearman correlations, and ANCOVAs with Bonferroni corrections were conducted. Higher environmental impact diets were significantly associated with demographic factors such as age, education status, residential location, and sex, but these associations were not consistent across population groups. The median greenhouse gas emissions were 2.77, 2.93, and 4.31 kgCO2eq, and freshwater use per day was 88, 144, and 307 L for children, teenagers, and adults, respectively. The environmental impact of the Irish population exceeded the planetary boundary for GHGe by at least 148% for all population groups, however the boundary for blue water use was not exceeded. Meat and meat alternatives (27-44%); eggs, dairy, and dairy alternatives (15-21%); and starchy staples (10-20%) were the main contributors to GHGe. For blue water use, the highest contributors were meat and meat alternatives in children; savouries, snacks, nuts, and seeds in teenagers; and eggs, dairy, and dairy alternatives in adults (29-52%). In adults, cropland use, nitrogen use, and phosphorous use exceeded planetary boundaries by 277-382%. Meat, dairy, and grains were the main contributors to cropland, nitrogen, and phosphorous use (79-88%). The quantified environmental impact of Irish diets provides a baseline analysis, against which it will be possible to track progress towards sustainable diets, and the basis for the development of Sustainable Food Based Dietary Guidelines in Ireland.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura B. Kirwan
- School of Agriculture & Food Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, D04 V1W8 Dublin, Ireland
| | - Janette Walton
- Department of Biological Sciences, Munster Technological University, T12 P928 Cork, Ireland
| | - Albert Flynn
- School of Food and Nutritional Sciences, University College Cork, T12 K8AF Cork, Ireland
| | - Anne P. Nugent
- School of Agriculture & Food Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, D04 V1W8 Dublin, Ireland
- School of Biological Sciences, Institute for Global Food Security, Queens University Belfast, Belfast BT7 1NN, UK
| | - John Kearney
- School of Biological & Health Sciences, Technological University Dublin, D07 EWV4 Dublin, Ireland
| | - Nicholas M. Holden
- School of Biosystems and Food Engineering, University College Dublin, Belfield, D04 V1W8 Dublin, Ireland
| | - Breige A. McNulty
- School of Agriculture & Food Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, D04 V1W8 Dublin, Ireland
- Correspondence:
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Martin-Ortega J, Rothwell SA, Anderson A, Okumah M, Lyon C, Sherry E, Johnston C, Withers PJ, Doody DG. Are stakeholders ready to transform phosphorus use in food systems? A transdisciplinary study in a livestock intensive system. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & POLICY 2022; 131:177-187. [PMID: 35505912 PMCID: PMC8895547 DOI: 10.1016/j.envsci.2022.01.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2021] [Revised: 12/18/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Food systems worldwide are vulnerable to Phosphorus (P) supply disruptions and price fluctuations. Current P use is also highly inefficient, generating large surpluses and pollution. Global food security and aquatic ecosystems are in jeopardy if transformative action is not taken. This paper pivots from earlier (predominantly conceptual) work to develop and analyse a P transdisciplinary scenario process, assessing stakeholders potential for transformative thinking in P use in the food system. Northern Ireland, a highly livestock-intensive system, was used as case study for illustrating such process. The stakeholder engagement takes a normative stance in that it sets the explicit premise that the food system needs to be transformed and asks stakeholders to engage in a dialogue on how that transformation can be achieved. A Substance Flow Analysis of P flows and stocks was employed to construct visions for alternative futures and stimulate stakeholder discussions on system responses. These were analysed for their transformative potential using a triple-loop social learning framework. For the most part, stakeholder responses remained transitional or incremental, rather than being fundamentally transformative. The process did unveil some deeper levers that could be acted upon to move the system further along the spectrum of transformational change (e.g. changes in food markets, creation of new P markets, destocking, new types of land production and radical land use changes), providing clues of what an aspirational system could look like. Replicated and adapted elsewhere, this process can serve as diagnostics of current stakeholders thinking and potential, as well as for the identification of those deeper levers, opening up avenues to work upon for global scale transformation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Martin-Ortega
- Sustainability Research Institute, School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Shane A. Rothwell
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, United Kingdom
| | - Aine Anderson
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, United Kingdom
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, BT9 5AG, United Kingdom
| | - Murat Okumah
- Sustainability Research Institute, School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Christopher Lyon
- Sustainability Research Institute, School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
- Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University, Montréal, Canada
| | - Erin Sherry
- Sustainable Agri-food Sciences Division, Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Christopher Johnston
- Sustainable Agri-food Sciences Division, Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Paul J.A. Withers
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, United Kingdom
| | - Donnacha G. Doody
- Sustainable Agri-food Sciences Division, Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Belfast, United Kingdom
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Stamm C, Binder CR, Frossard E, Haygarth PM, Oberson A, Richardson AE, Schaum C, Schoumans O, Udert KM. Towards circular phosphorus: The need of inter- and transdisciplinary research to close the broken cycle. AMBIO 2022; 51:611-622. [PMID: 34013441 PMCID: PMC8800955 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-021-01562-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Revised: 02/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/26/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Phosphorus (P) is an essential element to all living beings but also a finite resource. P-related problems center around broken P cycles from local to global scales. This paper presents outcomes from the 9th International Phosphorus Workshop (IPW9) held 2019 on how to move towards a sustainable P management. It is based on two sequential discussion rounds with all participants. Important progress was reported regarding the awareness of P as finite mineable resource, technologies to recycle P, and legislation towards a circular P economy. Yet, critical deficits were identified such as how to handle legacy P, how climate change may affect ecosystem P cycling, or working business models to up-scale existing recycling models. Workshop participants argued for more transdisciplinary networks to narrow a perceived science-practice/policy gap. While this gap may be smaller in reality as illustrated with a Swiss example, we formulate recommendations how to bridge this gap more effectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Stamm
- Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - Claudia R. Binder
- Laboratory on Human-Environment Relations in Urban Systems, EPFL ENAC IIE HERUS, 1015 Lausanne EPFL, Switzerland
| | - Emmanuel Frossard
- ETH Zurich, Research Station in Plant Sciences, Eschikon, 8315 Lindau, Switzerland
| | - Philip M. Haygarth
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, LA1 4YQ UK
| | - Astrid Oberson
- Group of Plant Nutrition, Research Station Eschikon, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, ETH Zurich, Eschikon 33, 8315 Lindau, Switzerland
| | | | - Christian Schaum
- Chair of Sanitary Engineering and Waste Management, Bundeswehr University Munich, Werner-Heisenberg-Weg 39, 85577 Neubiberg, Germany
| | - Oscar Schoumans
- Wageningen University & Research, Droevendaalsesteeg 3, 6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Kai M. Udert
- Eawag, Process Engineering, 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland
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Dhar AR, Oita A, Matsubae K. The Effect of Religious Dietary Cultures on Food Nitrogen and Phosphorus Footprints: A Case Study of India. Nutrients 2021; 13:1926. [PMID: 34205144 PMCID: PMC8226710 DOI: 10.3390/nu13061926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Revised: 05/29/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The excessive consumption of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), two vital nutrients for living organisms, is associated with negative environmental and health impacts. While food production contributes to a large amount of N and P loss to the environment, very little N and P is consumed as food. Food habits are affected by multiple regulations, including the dietary restrictions and dictates of various religions. In this study, religion-sensitive N-Calculator and P-Calculator approaches were used to determine the impact of religious dietary culture on the food N and P footprints of India in the major religious communities. Using 2013 data, the food N footprint of Hindus, Muslims, Christians, and Buddhists was 10.70, 11.45, 11.47, and 7.39 kg-N capita-1 year-1 (10.82 kg-N capita-1 year-1 was the national average), and the food P footprint was 1.46, 1.58, 1.04. and 1.58 kg-P capita-1 year-1 (1.48 kg-P capita-1 year-1 was the national average). The findings highlight the impact of individual choice on the N and P food footprints, and the importance of encouraging the followers of religion to follow a diet consistent with the food culture of that religion. The results of this study are a clear indication of the requirement for religion-sensitive analyses in the collecting of data pertinent to a particular country for use in making government policies designed to improve the recycling of food waste and the treatment of wastewater.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aurup Ratan Dhar
- Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Tohoku University, 468-1 Aoba, Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-0845, Miyagi, Japan;
| | - Azusa Oita
- Institute for Agro-Environmental Sciences, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, 3-1-3, Kannondai, Tsukuba 305-8604, Ibaraki, Japan;
| | - Kazuyo Matsubae
- Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Tohoku University, 468-1 Aoba, Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-0845, Miyagi, Japan;
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Barquet K, Järnberg L, Rosemarin A, Macura B. Identifying barriers and opportunities for a circular phosphorus economy in the Baltic Sea region. WATER RESEARCH 2020; 171:115433. [PMID: 31887547 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2019.115433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2019] [Revised: 11/09/2019] [Accepted: 12/20/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Phosphorus (P) is one of the essential elements needed for global food security. However, the phosphate life cycle is currently predominantly linear, from P-rock mining to fertiliser production, agriculture, and food consumption, with the P excess ending up in soil and runoff. Eutrophication coupled with limited global commercial phosphorus reserves call for increased efforts toward creating a circular economy for P in many populated drainage basins such as the Baltic Sea region. To identify barriers and opportunities for such a transition, we employ an analytical framework that merges an innovation systems perspective with elements from the socio-technical transitions literature. Combining a literature review with key informant interviews, we find that lack of appropriate policy steering and insufficient knowledge on the performance of technologies for reuse remain key obstacles for closing the P loop. There are, however, structural opportunities presented by the new EU Fertilising Products Regulation that are likely to level the playing field between conventional and waste-derived fertilisers and thereby improve the market opportunities for recovered P. However, the system currently appears to be moving towards a narrow focus on a few new technologies for P recovery and reuse which could lead to new lock-ins. Solutions need to address users' acceptability of the technologies and waste-derived products while the vision of a circular economy needs to be better articulated through government interventions to capture environmental externalities of phosphate mining. The paper further highlights knowledge gaps and proposes recommendations for policy and research related to the circular economy of P.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karina Barquet
- Stockholm Environment Institute, Linnégatan 87D, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Linn Järnberg
- Stockholm Environment Institute, Linnégatan 87D, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Arno Rosemarin
- Stockholm Environment Institute, Linnégatan 87D, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Biljana Macura
- Stockholm Environment Institute, Linnégatan 87D, Stockholm, Sweden.
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