Chapter 2: Crop Water Needs." "2019 California Almond Acreage Report." Ideally, buy one made from recycled materials (eg Eco-Bottles), and use it. However, sustainability-wise it's often criticized for its colossal water footprint and the fact that almonds grow only in one very small part of the world, California. 2018. If there is a lot of packaging, then they wont be able to accept the waste, but this doesnt happen very often.. Meanwhile, consumption of dairy milk has plummeted 37 percent since the 1970s, according to the USDA. Armstrong, Lewis. Carry cutlery in your bag. We want to shop and eat sustainably. Plant-based milk is a booming market, representing15% of the entire milk category. I have also wondered about much water and resources go into producing it. "Treading Lightly: The Water Footprint of Peanuts." Almond farming generates slightly fewer greenhouse gas emissions than oat farminga kilogram of raw nuts generating a reported 1.6 kilograms carbon dioxide equivalent. But, sometimes, it is easier said than done. "US Non-Dairy Milk Sales Grow 61% Over the Last 5 Years." "Oat Milk Edges Past Soymilk for #2 Slot in U.S. Plant-Based Milk Retail Market." That would mean the seeds travel 3,000 miles from the Central Valley to the opposite end of the countrya distance that would cost the average car about 2,670 pounds of CO2 emissions,based on EPA estimatesthen across the countryagainfor distribution. Carbon footprint Kilogram / Protein / Calories Per kilogram By stage of supply chain Greenhouse gas emissions per kilogram of food Emissions are measured in carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2eq). Elizabeth MacLennan is a fact checker and expert on climate change. Almonds, on the other hand, can have a carbon footprint 10 times smaller than dairy milk's. A clear-cut choice for consumers with an environmental conscience, then? To measure the environmental impact of a type of milk, one must consider a multitude of factors: where the crop grows, how much space it requires, how much water it uses, its dependence on chemical substances, plus the emissions generated by farming it, its production, transporting it, and so forth. To make matters worse, almond trees drop their leaves annually, and all the nitrogen stored in that organic material can be leached into soil and groundwaterespecially if it's hit with a sudden shower. | 11 5, 2022 | physical anthropology class 12 | ranger file manager icons | 11 5, 2022 | physical anthropology class 12 | ranger file manager icons One of the insecticides widely used to ward off the peach twig borer, methoxyfenozide, is proven to betoxic to bees. Solution: get (certified) cod back on your menu. Peanut consumption, on the other hand, far outweighs almond consumption in the U.S.2.26 pounds per capitaversus7.6 pounds per capitabut peanuts need less water to grow, about4.7 gallons per ounce. "Cash Receipts by Commodity." Overall, the production of almond milk emits less greenhouse gas than the production of oat milk, soy milk, and rice milk, taking into account farming, transportation, packing, andprocessing. Water use is similarly higher for cow's milk: 628. Blue Diamond uses HP Hood, a nationaldairy company based in Massachusetts, to manufacture its almond milk, and while the company does operate a factory justfor shelf-stable fluidsin California, past incidents of cow's milk contamination in refrigerated Vanilla Almond Breeze suggest some of Blue Diamond's popular almond-based beverages are manufactured in its New England facilities, alongside dairy products. University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources. 2019. It adds: We moved to a more translucent [Fruit Shoot] bottle in February.. Is Honey Vegan? Fulton, Julian, et al. Park, et al. "Life Cyclebased Assessment of Energy Use and Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Almond Production, Part II: Uncertainty Analysis through Sensitivity Analysis and Scenario Testing." In 2017, the California Department of Pesticide Regulation reported that 34 million pounds of pesticides were usedon almond orchardsthat yearmore than used by any other crop in the state. University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources. Theres a fear people are not reusing heavier bags enough, says Hemingway, to the extent the volume of bag-plastic in circulation could actually be increasing. As we all accumulate bags, could this be creating an eco-anomaly? "San Joaquin Valley Is Still Sinking." Trying to decide between oat milk and almond milk for your latte? Although almonds are considered vegan because they contain no animal byproducts, they do rely heavily on bee labor and are therefore avoided by some people. "California Almond Industry Facts." Watson, Elaine. Popular crops like walnuts, hazelnuts, and pistachios drink just as muchsometimes more, evenbut the almond industry receives more criticism because almonds are in higher demand. That same year, almond acreage treated with insecticides had increased by 5%, treated with herbicides increased by 6%, and treated with fungicides increased by 12%. This article explores the differences, benefits, downsides, and nutrition of both these plant-based milks. While I will continue to be an almond milk consumer, I plan to try different kinds of plant-based milks such as coconut milk or cashew milk, as these use far less water and have low greenhouse gas emissions during their respective productions. 1, 2019, pp. 987-992., doi:10.1126/science.aaq0216, Williams, A. 2021. University of Missouri Extension. "Colony Collapse Disorder." Environmental Health, vol. Plant Based Foods Association, 2020. United States Department of Agriculture. Almond is a platform allowing individuals and businesses to understand, reduce, and offset their carbon footprint. Water use is similarly higher for cow's milk: 628. What's more, they're often treated with pesticides that threaten honeybee health. One of the top five insecticides used,methoxyfenozide,is toxic to bees. According to the magazine Mother Jones, it takes 1.1 gallons of water to produce 1 almond! "The Dangers of Pesticides on Wildlife." "Table 23." United States Department of Agriculture. She holds a degree in Journalism from Ohio University. Solution: of the dairy alternatives, oat milk is the most sustainable option, according to Hemingway. Stanford University. n food and drink, we all want to do the right thing. A seven-ounce glass comes in at about 0.4 pounds of carbon dioxide. But which is the eco-friendlier option of the two most popular varieties, almond milk or oat milk? "Rotations for Soil Fertility." "Relative Toxicities of Pesticides Used in Almonds to Natural Enemies and Honey Bees." By 2020, though, it had become the second most popular type of milk alternative. The dairy industry is responsible for 4% of all total greenhouse gas emissions caused by humans, according to Georgina Gustin of Inside Climate News. The use of nitrogen-rich fertilizers can contaminate soil and groundwater with a toxic compound that, if consumed in large quantities, candilate blood vesselsand lower blood pressure. Save California Salmon. are valuable sources ofrenewable energy and dairy feed. Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. Oats are seeds that grow on long, leafy stems in open fields yielding about 67 bushels per acre. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. 19, no. Solution: at lunch, rather than a takeaway from the works canteen or a local cafe, sit in and eat off a plate using metal cutlery. According to Gustins article, members of the National Milk Producers Federation do not approve of plant-based milks being labeled as milks, as they are using the positive nutritional branding of milk and using it for a product other than dairy milk, as the name was originally intended for. Americans are drinking 20% less dairy milk todaythan they were in 2010. While the process is essential to modern-day food production, it's been criticized for putting immense stress on the bees, which would normally spend the winter resting if they were in nature. Chapter 2: Crop Water Needs, Water-Indexed Benefits and Impacts of California Almonds, Methane: A Crucial Opportunity in the Climate Fight, 2015 Agricultural Chemical Use Survey: Oats, Groundwater, Rivers, Ecosystems and Conflicts, As California Almond Acreage Grows, Trees Bring Benefits to Agriculture, Environment, Community, Life Cyclebased Assessment of Energy Use and Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Almond Production, Part II: Uncertainty Analysis through Sensitivity Analysis and Scenario Testing, The Other Side of Almonds: A Light Carbon Footprint, Summary of Pesticide Use Report Data - 2017, Exposure to Sublethal Concentrations of Methoxyfenozide Disrupts Honey Bee Colony Activity and Thermoregulation, Seasonal Guide to Environmentally Responsible Pest Management Practices in Almonds, Migratory Management and Environmental Conditions Affect Lifespan and Oxidative Stress in Honey Bees, Why Bees Matter: The Importance of Bees and Other Pollinators for Food and Agriculture, Declining Bee Populations Pose Threat to Global Food Security and Nutrition. 100ml of cow's milk will contain around 3.4 grams of protein, versus 0.5 grams in almond milk. "US Non-Dairy Milk Sales Grow 61% Over the Last Five Years." Purchasing a plant milk that comes . 113, no. Growing peas requires up to six times less water than almonds, and this milk alternative has a much smaller carbon footprint than dairy. Almond trees are notorious water guzzlersbad news fordrought-stricken California, the source of most of these thirsty seeds (often falsely labeled as tree nuts for the sake of allergic labeling). Almond milk is low in calories, fat and protein, the consistency is thin, and the taste is fairly light and neutral, making it a good choice for mixing into smoothies. (Dont worry about the can: there is healthy demand for recycled steel.) From cod to clingfilm, the advice were given can often be confusing. Wolfram suggests choosing a variety that's fortified with calcium and Vitamin D. Coconut Milk And because they only grow in hot, low-humidity environments, much of that water is "blue." This figure factors in the emissions generated from farming the oat, harvesting it, and processing it into oat milk. "Pollinators at a Crossroads." U.S. Department of Agriculture, 2021. That sounds positive. . Clingfilm can play an important role in that, says Hemingway. Oat milk was so novel in the mid-2010s that it wasn't even named in a comprehensiveMintel reporton plant-based milk sales from 2012 to 2017. Almond Milk, Dairy Milk, and Carbon Footprints: Freestyle Blog Post. Almond milk appeals to the more health-conscious crowd because it contains only a third of the calories of oat milk, half the fat, and a half of the carbohydrates. Data from the United States Department of Agriculture shows that nondairy milk sales increased by 36% in 2020, whereas cow's milk salesdeclined by 12%. To make both oat and almond milk, the oats or almonds are soaked in water, blended, then strained to remove the pulp. Compostable products have no gas value, says a spokesperson for waste recycler ReFood. Naturally, water scarcity has also taken a toll on crops. "Summary of Pesticide Use Report Data - 2017." This company strives to reduce the carbon footprint and water waste that comes with prepackaged plant milks. A myriad of harmful chemicals is sprayed on almond orchards throughout the year to prevent invasions from ants, mites, leafrollers, and the voracious peach twig borera major almondtree enemy. Research by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations has shown that low-fat milk options are. Blue Diamond Almond Breeze Unsweetened Original Almond Milk. 3, 2019, pp. Statista. Research done by Life Cycle Associates mentioned in the article describes that the production of 1 liter of almond milk produces 396 grams of carbon dioxide, compared to 1,467 grams of carbon dioxide produced from 1 liter of dairy milk. While Gustin does note that the dairy industry plans to make efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by the year 2020, the production and consumption of dairy milk has a significantly larger carbon footprint than almond milk. Bond, Jennifer K., et al. For semi-skimmed bovine milk, as well as for the regular varieties of soy, oat, almond and coconut drink, a ultra-heat treatment (UHT) and pasteurised product was included. Every liter of cow's milk uses 8.9 square meters per year, compared to 0.8 for oat, 0.7 for soy, 0.5 for almond and 0.3 for rice milk. By way of inspiration, here are some of the ways we get it wrong on ingredients, storage and recycling and a few surprisingly easy solutions. The meat and dairy industries are significant contributors to food's carbon footprint. Looking at land use, the difference is starker still. Otto, Clint R.V., et al. By Georgina Gustin January. Look for the B Corp certification, which ensures the product meets the highest standards of sustainability and transparency. In terms of combatting immediate environmental pollution, the 5p plastic bag charge has been a huge success. Health Conditions. Environmental Protection Agency. Imported New Zealand lamb has a lower carbon footprint than British lamb, concluded a 2009 report for Defra. Wade, Andrea, et al. Coconut milk: 20. In others, though, almond milk's environmental flaws far outweigh those of its grain-based counterpart. Another advertisement calling for the end of almond milk being labeled as such. As for so many daily decisions, especially at the grocery store, a lot depends on price. U.S. Department of Agriculture. The protein in dairy is also a more 'complete' protein source, which means it has the full profile of essential amino acids. If we are serious about eating green, we need to read beyond the headlines and think rigorously about how we apply ethical advice in our own lives. The U.S. Department of Agriculture considers these essential workers livestock because of their key role in pollinating 75% of all food crops. But a Danish government study worries some experts. We collaborate with Project Apis m to help honeybees thrive during and after almond bloom. "Combined Toxicity of Insecticides and Fungicides Applied to California Almond Orchards to Honey Bee Larvae and Adults." When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. 32023., doi:10.1038/srep32023. We want to shop and eat sustainably. However,. In 2018, the global market size of almond milk was estimated atmore than $5 billion. An advertisement in support of the DAIRY PRIDE Act, encouraging the FDA to place tighter restrictions on what can be labeled and sold as a milk. Now it uses beeswax wrapping. Year-round pollination cycles deprive the bees of an important dormancy period in which they rest to regain their energy for the next bloom season. http://www.almonds.com/sustainability#water. The Almond Board in California has donated money for the purpose of helping farmers to do research to find methods of improving their techniques in reducing the amount of water they use when producing almonds. U.S. Department of Agriculture. Olivia Young is a writer, fact checker, and green living expert passionate about tiny living, climate advocacy, and all things nature. And bloom season, as it happens, is theprime time to spray. It is a compromise, but soy milk seems to leave the smallest footprint on the environment. Almond milk remains the reigning champion of dairy-milk alternatives, accounting for a63% share. In its initial production, compostable packaging is more eco-friendly than traditional plastic packaging, but, at the moment, it is no silver bullet. Then, there's the matter of animal exploitation. Almond milk is produced by blending almonds with water (and any other necessary ingredients that manufacturers use), and then straining out the almond pulp. I love almondmilk and use quite a lot of it throughout the week. Science, vol. Curell, Christina. But millions of them die every year from pesticide exposure, diseases, and habitat loss. Mintel, 2018. In food and drink, we all want to do the right thing. The trees that produce these nutlike seeds need about 36 inches (twice the amount oats need)per season. Sales of bottled One Water were down 30,000 in the first half of this year at the University of Manchester. bonkers 1,611 US gallons (6,098 litres) to produce 1 litre, resource intensive and less than 40% of bioplastic is designed to be biodegradable, deforestation and the destruction of Brazils Cerrado grasslands, no measure of a products green credentials, The best of 2018: were resurfacing some of our top stories of the past year. The term almond milk refers to a plant milk made from ground almonds and water filtered with salt. 314-318., doi:10.1126/science.aaz9600. "Methane: A Crucial Opportunity in the Climate Fight." "Land-Use Change Reduces Habitat Suitability for Supporting Managed Honey Bee Colonies in the Northern Great Plains." The price point is $4 per half gallon, and it's readily available at coffee shops or grocery chains. I was reading up on it and found that oats require even less water to grow. Almond crops generatedtwo times more cashfor the U.S. economy than pistachios in 2020, six times more than walnuts, and 42 times more than hazelnuts. If sent to a landfill, this pulp will produce methane, a greenhouse gas80 times worsethan carbon dioxide, as it rots. Carbon footprint was calculated for 1 UHT drink per regular plant-based type and for 1 UHT semi-skimmed bovine milk. The almonds for Malk Organics's nut milk, for example, are sourced from Spain. Pesticides and insecticides that have been freshly sprayed on the treesthreaten the healthof these crucial pollinators whose populations are alreadyin steep decline. In 2017, the annual salmon run that would normally have filled bears' and birds' bellies with tens (or hundreds) of thousands of fish and allowed the salmon to spawn proved to be the second-lowest return in recorded history. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. Cashew milk: 23. 3, 2019.. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0204635. 60., doi:10.1186/1476-069X-9-60. For rice drink only, a UHT product was available. "Migratory Management and Environmental Conditions Affect Lifespan and Oxidative Stress in Honey Bees." Manufacturers can label any bottle that can feasibly be recycled as recyclable. Plant-based milks not only typically need less water than dairy, but they also have a smaller carbon footprint. Daiber, Andreas and Thomas Munzel. Still, it's important to understand how agricultural processes affect the planet. While almond trees occupy smaller amounts of farmland compared with other crops grown for milk, this benefit is overshadowed by the negative impacts of almond farming in the US. "Nitrates in Drinking Water and Methemoglobin Levels in Pregnancy: A Longitudinal Study." Hive transportation is scientifically proven tocause bees stressand shorten their lifespans. Defenders of Wildlife. What's particularly great about growing oats is that the land can be used for other crops when oats are not in season. That leaves rather a bad taste in the mouth. The trees that produce these seeds covermore than 1.5 million acres of the Central Valley. Where those bottles are segregated in bins from glass, paper and other waste, as they are at the university, you can be confident they will be recycled. "Declining Bee Populations Pose Threat to Global Food Security and Nutrition." Almond Board of California, 2019, p. 43. Overall, that's good news in terms of climate impact, because no matter the main ingredient, plant milks have a much lower carbon footprint compared with dairy milk. Scientific Reports, vol. Herbicides were applied to 51% of planted acres, fungicides to 9%, andinsecticides to 4%. California Department of Pesticide Regulation, 2017. Hemp farming does require more water than oat, soy or pea (but still much less than almond or cow's milk). Solution: choose tofu brands (eg Taifun) that source super low-carbon European or US soy. In some cases, says Malk founder August Vega (who has a. Have you ever tried oat milk? Oats are inexpensive and generally considered sustainable. While thanks to the effort of several individuals and organizations, the majority of the world's population is aware and concerned about climate change, only a very small part (<0.1%) know their carbon . Pre-shipping, the carbon created by a litre of semi-skimmed (1.67kg) is far higher than that of almond milk (360g). Acid Reflux; United States Department of Agriculture, 2021. "Summary of Pesticide Use Report Data 2017." Dairy Farming: Environmental Impact, Ethics, and Industry Outlook, 5 Satisfying Food Swaps to Help the Planet, Best of Green Awards 2021: Sustainable Food and Drink. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 2018. Nelson, Rebecca and Leon Szeptyckl. Is Honey Vegan? I tend to drink a mixture of almond and cashew myself, but I`ve had oat milk before in coffee at a shop before, and it was yummy! Many of the state's growersof which there are 6,800, according to the Almond Board of Californiahave resorted to ripping out portions of their almond crops on account of the worsening drought. Large-scale industrial agriculture and pesticide exposure were blamed for the massive die-off. California's Almond Trade Is Exploiting One of Nature's Most Essential Workers, Honey Bees on the Move: From Pollination to Honey Production and Back, Fast Facts on Transportation Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Land-Use Change Reduces Habitat Suitability for Supporting Managed Honey Bee Colonies in the Northern Great Plains. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Alternating between deep and shallow roots helps to stabilize the soil, and the constant changeover deters pests and disease. 360, no. Mintel, 2018. Purchase non-GMO and USDA-certified organic almonds and almond milk whenever possible to reduce the use of toxic pesticides and fertilizers.
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