Environmental Awareness 2018, 2019

The Future of Food: The Impact of Food on the Health of the Planet and Humankind

Mon Mar 4, 2019
6:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Event Video

The food we consume and how it is produced has a profound impact on our environment. From water used in irrigation to water polluted from animal waste to methane emissions from cattle and carbon dioxide emissions from food transportation, making our food supply more sustainable has the potential to improve the health of the planet and the humans living here.

This challenge permeates all levels of the local and global community. Starting locally, this program will address the extent of food insecurity in our own community and the efforts to address it. At the same time as so many face food insecurity, so much food is wasted. Fortunately, food waste is something in which everyone can address; this program will provide actionable steps to be part of the solution.

Finally, discussions around climate change often address factors such as temperature and precipitation levels. However, just as impactful on our global food supply is the levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Plants need carbon dioxide to grow, but can there be too much of a good thing? Rising levels of carbon dioxide have the potential to reduce the nutritional value of the world’s staple crops–find out how and how this is best addressed.

This program is generously underwritten by Betsy & Jesse Fink, Amy & Jay Regan and Wendy Rudolph & Graeme Bush; the Environmental Awareness Series is generously underwritten by Holly & Buck Elliot. This program is presented in partnership with Walking Mountains Science Center.

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Event Video

Event SPEAKER(S)

Mercedes Quesada-Embid

Mercedes Quesada-Embid

Associate Professor of Environmental Policy and Advocacy / Department of Environment and Sustainability

Catawba College

Dr. Lewis Ziska

Dr. Lewis Ziska

Plant Physiologist

Agricultural Research Service

Susie Davis

Susie Davis

Director for Community Impact

Our Community Foundation

Chris Cochran

Chris Cochran

Executive Director

ReFED