Concerns about inflation affecting grocery prices, the use of local peaches as promotional items, and the ongoing affordability of bananas all highlight a critical issue for a Brock University biological sciences professor and UNESCO Chair in Community Sustainability: the market prices of food do not accurately reflect their true production costs.
This disconnection arises from overlooked expenses, such as those for equipment, inputs like seeds, fertilizer, and fuel, transportation, as well as farmers’ compensation.
“Consumers often fail to account for these expenses when they choose cheaper options at different stores, which inadvertently undermines the livelihoods of farmers,” explains Vasseur, also affiliated with Brock’s Environmental Sustainability Research Centre. “It raises the question: how can we expect farmers to thrive under such circumstances?”
Agriculture carries additional environmental costs. The production of food can significantly harm the planet, particularly through detrimental effects on the soil that supports our food systems.
Impact of Soil Health on Global Well-being
“Unsustainable farming methods result in both soil erosion and contamination,” states James Campbell, research associate at the Research Centre for Carbon Solutions at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland.
“Declining soil quality often leads to increased usage of fertilizers, pesticides, and fungicides. It can also result in soils tainted with heavy metals and microplastics, which can travel into oceans, causing significant environmental damage,” Campbell contends.
According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, approximately one-third of the world’s soil is compromised due to agricultural practices, with projections indicating that over 90 percent could be affected by 2050. This scenario threatens not only food security but also the planet’s capacity to support life.
Healthy soil acts as a carbon reservoir, playing a vital role in climate regulation. When compromised, this stored carbon is released back into the atmosphere, significantly contributing to climate change.
Soil degradation also negatively impacts essential resources like water. The UN estimates that roughly half of the global population is already experiencing the consequences of changes to land, resulting in a loss of about US$40 trillion in ecosystem services—equivalent to half of the world’s gross domestic product in 2021. Furthermore, land degradation is identified as the foremost cause of terrestrial biodiversity loss.
Enhanced weathering may sound like advanced meteorological science, but it is actually a carbon-capture technique that utilizes natural strategies to promote soil health and reduce erosion while simultaneously increasing ocean alkalinity to mitigate acidification.
James Campbell and his colleagues are diligently exploring enhanced weathering methods, including the application of rock dust to rejuvenate soil and introducing rock particles into the ocean to accelerate a chemical reaction that mimics natural processes for removing acidic carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
“Other innovative soil remediation methods, such as incorporating biochar, are currently under examination,” adds Campbell. “A student of ours is researching the combination of enhanced weathering and biochar applications, yielding promising preliminary results. Improvements in soil biodiversity, atmospheric carbon reduction, and better crop yields are observed.”
The Relationship Between Soil Health and Oceanic Conditions
Land and soil degradation also has repercussions for our oceans. The release of carbon dioxide (CO2) due to practices like tilling and deforestation for agriculture inevitably contributes to another significant carbon sink: the oceans. When CO2 mixes with seawater, it forms carbonic acid, increasing ocean acidity.
Ocean acidification poses severe threats to marine ecosystems, earning it the moniker “osteoporosis of the sea.” It reduces carbonate availability for creatures like shellfish, coral, and crustaceans, which rely on it to construct their structures.
“As a result, lobsters may experience shell softening, making them more vulnerable to parasites and other challenges,” Vasseur notes.
Consequences of Biodiversity Decline
It might be tempting to assume that a decline in lobster populations due to parasites infiltrating their fragile shells wouldn’t significantly impact humanity since there are other marine species available. However, Vasseur emphasizes that every time a species declines or disappears, it weakens the sustainability of its ecosystem and thus the health of the entire planet.
As oceans warm and acidify due to increasing global temperatures, species like lobsters and cod, which thrive in cooler northern waters, are forced to migrate further north, intruding into other ecosystems searching for suitable habitats.
“This also leads to shifts in the ecosystems where cod previously thrived, replaced by bottom feeders and species that can withstand warmer temperatures or lower oxygen levels,” notes Vasseur. “Invasive species, such as the green crab, which is establishing a presence on the Atlantic coast, may outcompete our more sensitive native species.”
Not only does this alter the biodiversity of our oceans, but it also impacts economic health, she points out. Functional ecosystems are paramount for human survival, yet numerous are already endangered due to human activity.
A 2020 report by the UN regarding biodiversity and ecosystem services revealed that around one-quarter of terrestrial, freshwater, and marine vertebrates and invertebrates, as well as plants, are at risk of extinction, with many species facing potential disappearance within decades.
Personal Choices Can Shape Our Future
The outlook appears grim, yet Vasseur asserts that we can alter our trajectory by contemplating the repercussions of our individual choices, particularly those made at grocery stores.
“We must consider the ethical implications of our actions. Such reflections are often absent today. We frequently think, ‘I can do this,’ without considering how it will affect future generations,” she explains. “Everything is interconnected; every action we take impacts something else.”
Support local farmers
Purchasing food from local sources minimizes the distance it travels from the farm to your table, which generally results in reduced carbon emissions. For an even greater impact, consider buying directly from farmers, especially those engaged in organic and regenerative farming practices, at farm stands or through community-supported agriculture (CSA) initiatives.
Limit use of chemicals
Avoid using fertilizers, pesticides, and insecticides in your gardens and yards, as they can be harmful to humans, wildlife, and pets.
Replace grass with native plants
To reduce mowing and watering, consider replacing traditional lawns with native vegetation. Native plants are well-suited to the local climate and require fewer resources, providing essential habitat for local wildlife.
Keep domestic cats indoors
While adorable, cats are instinctual predators threatening local wildlife. Keeping them indoors can help protect as many as 200 million birds in Canada alone. If your cat must go outside, a collar with a bell can alert potential prey to their presence.
This article was originally published in the April 2024 issue of Intomodel magazine.
