Dietary Choices and Environmental Impact

Introduction

What we consume and the methods used to produce our food have significant effects on both our health and the environment.

Food undergoes multiple stages, including growing, processing, transportation, distribution, preparation, consumption, and disposal. Each of these stages contributes to the emission of greenhouse gases (GHGs) that trap heat in the atmosphere and drive climate change. Approximately one-third of all human-induced greenhouse gas emissions are related to food.

The majority of food-related GHG emissions originate from agriculture and land use, such as:

  • Methane produced by cattle during digestion
  • Nitrous oxide released from fertilizers used in crop production
  • Carbon dioxide emitted when forests are cleared to create farmland
  • Additional emissions from manure management, rice cultivation, burning crop residues, and fuel use on farms

A smaller portion of food-related GHG emissions comes from:

  • The refrigeration and transportation of food
  • Industrial processes like the production of packaging materials such as paper and aluminum
  • The management and disposal of food waste

Understanding these impacts highlights the importance of sustainable practices in food production and consumption to mitigate climate change.

Task

Today's mission: expose the hidden impact of our food choices on the environment!

 Imagine you're a team of top-secret Eco-Foodies tasked with raising awareness about the environmental footprint of food choices within your very own community. Your mission is to create a visually stunning infographic that packs a powerful punch.

Process

STEP 1: Overview of how our food choices affect the environment 

An overview of food choices impact on the environment will start with a test of the environmental impact of students' favourite food item, making use of the web calculator provided in the URL: https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-46459714 and a brainstorming session around the question: "How do you think our food choices might impact the planet?" on a twinspace poll.

Compare the recordings of your responses with those written already to the following Coggle mind map. If there's something missing, you will be invited by email to contribute to the map editing so to be able to add them and enrich it:

https://coggle.it/diagram/Zp7K0Gw-U5VzkCZU/t/-/dc63e3d0526d329e252b58a1897bcd58668b39806f82b2aef92615da2edb9061

A brief discussion on all those provided there will be held. 

 STEP 2: Understanding food groups' footprint

Students will be divided into groups and we'll assign each group a specific food category (e.g., meat, dairy, fruits/vegetables, grains, fats and oils). Each group researches the environmental impact of their assigned food category using provided resources (websites, pre-prepared info sheets) or online research with teacher guidance. They will record their findings to a shared Google document:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1gUWfE-VSBh25ss0a5DLqoIaJ1CLELEB7gad-8aehCsQ/edit?usp=sharing

Useful resources:

 

STEP 3: Mapping the Impacts

We reunite as a class and discuss the findings, encouraging discussion and critical thinking with the use of questions such as "Which food category has the most significant water footprint?". 

Then, students are invited to fill a new Coggle map of environmental impacts, adding their assigned food category:

https://coggle.it/diagram/Zp_J55IiZZGAkoeZ/t/-/3e59af9b4197d2575274e1eced0d67e29cd8ba5db5f94ee76f0d2d016c605315

STEP 4: Empowering Choices 

Brainstorm strategies for making more sustainable food choices based on the information gathered. Examples include:

  • Reducing meat consumption
  • Choosing locally sourced produce
  • Opting for plant-based alternatives
  • Minimizing food waste

and then students are encouraged to add on the twinboard in the related Twinspace page a personal action plan for making at least two changes to their food choices with a positive environmental impact.

Extension Activity:

Students create an infographic to raise awareness about the environmental impact of food choices in their community. They post it to the following padlet:

https://padlet.com/meddiet4health/art-showcase-dopclbyvpl5escp8

 

Evaluation
Criteria 5 - Excellent 4 - Good 3 - Satisfactory 2 - Needs Improvement 1 - Unsatisfactory
Content Understanding Thorough understanding of food choices' environmental impact with detailed examples. Good understanding with several relevant examples. Basic understanding with few examples. Limited understanding, missing key points. No understanding evident.
Research Quality Extensive research with credible sources, well-documented findings. Good research with some credible sources. Basic research, limited source credibility. Minimal research, lacking source credibility. No research conducted.
Collaboration and Contribution Actively engages and significantly contributes to group discussions and Coggle map. Participates in discussions and adds to the Coggle map. Occasionally contributes to discussions; limited input on the map. Rarely participates or contributes. No participation in group work.
Creativity and Presentation Infographic is visually stunning and creatively presents information effectively. Infographic is visually appealing and presents information well. Infographic is clear but lacks creativity. Infographic is unclear or poorly designed. No infographic submitted.
Action Plan and Sustainability Comprehensive action plan with well-defined, impactful changes. Clear action plan with relevant changes. Basic action plan with some relevant changes. Minimal action plan with vague changes. No action plan provided.

This rubric provides a structured assessment for the infographic project focused on the environmental impact of food choices, ensuring students understand expectations and can self-assess their work effectively.

Conclusion

The agricultural phase significantly impacts the overall lifecycle of food, primarily due to agronomic and livestock activities. Following this, food processing and logistics also play major roles because of their high energy demands and the emissions produced during the generation of heat, steam, and electricity, as well as during transportation.

At the end-of-life stage, human excretion and wastewater treatment present substantial environmental challenges. These processes contribute more eutrophying substances than agriculture, transport, and processing combined. Additionally, food losses occurring throughout the entire lifecycle—from agricultural and industrial stages to household waste—must be considered, as they can account for up to 60% of the food's initial weight.

Credits
Teacher Page

This WebQuest was edited by a teacher of 1st EPAL Nafpaktou, Greece, as part of the activities of the "Mediterranean Diet for Overall Health" (MedDiet4Health) Erasmus+ project (Project number: 2023-2-EL01-KA210-VET-000183592).

By engaging in this webquest, vocational students can develop a comprehensive understanding of the relationship between food choices and environmental impacts while also honing a variety of skills that will benefit them in their educational and professional journeys. 

This WebQuest reflects only the author’s views. The European Commission’s support for the production of this WebQuest does not constitute an endorsement of the contents which reflects the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.