The Green Grok Blogs on Food
Is There Enough Water to ‘Grow’ Ethanol?
by Bill ChameidesJun 23, 2009
filed under: natural resources, energy, corn, corn ethanol, legislation, water, ethanol, biofuels
A recent study points out that when it comes to water usage, where your ethanol is brewed really matters.
Update: Ag Chair Introduces Bill to Bypass EPA on Renewable Fuels
by Bill ChameidesMay 21, 2009
filed under: energy, farmers, climate change, corn, corn ethanol, Minnesota, Waxman-Markey climate bill, Collin Peterson, ethanol, agriculture, biofuels
Last week Rep. Collin Peterson (D-MN) took his ”I don’t trust anyone anymore” paranoia one step further. He offered up a bill that would not just bypass the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed renewable fuels standard, but the agency itself.
Statistically Speaking: Diversity in Our Diet
by Bill ChameidesMay 13, 2009
filed under: food, plants, statistically speaking, agriculture
Because we’re rarely more than a short drive away from a drive-thru, Americans might not even be aware of the increasing trend toward monoculture in our managed ecosystems. (See related video.) It's a worrisome trend. Now here’s something else to nibble on: the loss of diversity in the plants we eat.
Weeds in the Garden: Spraying May Be Harmful to Your Health
by Bill ChameidesMay 04, 2009
filed under: Roundup, herbicides, lawns, farmers, corn, plants, Rodeo, pesticides, agriculture, gardens
Throughout much of the U.S. of A., spring has sprung. Here in North Carolina, lawns are lush and verdant and blooms are everywhere. But with the good stuff comes those pesky weeds. What’s a gardener to do?
Is a Free-Range Pig a Good Pig?
by Bill ChameidesApr 23, 2009
filed under: food, antibiotics, pigs, health, New York Times, salmonella, bacteria
A free-range pig is happier than a confined pig. Perhaps. But is a free-range pig safe to eat?
Grok Image: Getting in Touch With Your Roots
by Bill ChameidesApr 13, 2009
filed under: food, Grok Image
Like many other Americans I was sitting at a table last week eating horseradish to remind me of the bitterness of slavery. My horseradish came out of a jar. But I began to wonder, what does the stuff actually look like?
Statistically Speaking: How Much Exxon Valdez Oil Remains?
by Bill ChameidesMar 20, 2009
filed under: crude oil, wildlife, oil, Statistically Speaking, fish, oceans, Exxon Valdez, oil spill, birds
Oil from the 1989 Exxon Valdez spill continues to threaten wildlife and fish in the Prince William Sound ecosystem (see our post from Wednesday). But how much oil is left?
Corn Ethanol or Conservation? What Do You Think?
by Bill ChameidesMar 16, 2009
filed under: greenhouse gas emissions, Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE), corn, corn ethanol, biofuels, policy, Conservation Reserve Program, Farm Bill
U.S. corn ethanol production has been on the rise. That’s good for our country’s carbon footprint, right? A new study suggests not.
Update: Thinner Shells Put Ocean on Thin Ice
by Bill ChameidesMar 12, 2009
filed under: climate change, fish, oceans, global warming, ocean acidification, carbon, carbon dioxide emissions, seafood
Some argue that more carbon dioxide is a “good thing.” I guess they just can’t get their minds around the whole climate change thing. OK, but what about ocean acidification? If you like seafood, ocean acidification is definitely not a good thing.
Pulse of the Planet: Ocean Acidification Faster Sooner
by Bill ChameidesDec 11, 2008
filed under: oceans, phytoplankton, fish, calcifier, Pulse of the Planet, global warming, research, ocean acidification, science, carbon dioxide emissions
Regardless of your stance on global warming, you should be worried about a related problem: ocean acidification. You don’t need a climate model to know this is serious, especially if you like -- or depend on -- seafood. Two new papers explore just how serious.
The Life of a Turkey
by Bill ChameidesNov 21, 2008
filed under: food, health, animals, turkey
Thanksgiving approaches. As most of us look forward to celebrating our blessings with family and friends, putting a turkey front and center on the dinner table, I thought it might be interesting to learn about the life of the average American turkey.
Are All Meat-Eaters Children of the Corn?
by Bill ChameidesNov 18, 2008
filed under: animals, food, corn, health, agriculture
For decades, big companies have been consuming others until only a few are left. This Pac Man-like game has been especially true of agriculture where a handful of large corporations control almost every aspect of our food production. A new study explores this situation vis-a-vis our fast-food addiction.
Pulse of the Planet: Wait a Second Before You Bite Into That Tuna Sandwich
by Bill ChameidesNov 03, 2008
filed under: oceans, food, pulse of the planet, fish, catch limits, Pulse of the Planet, sustainability, science, tuna, overfishing
Many of us love bluefin tuna – think sushi and sashimi – a fish so in demand that just one can fetch upwards of $10,000. But there are reasons to think twice about eating it. Mercury contamination is one. Another is declining numbers. For 40 years, despite catch regulations, Atlantic bluefin tuna populations have declined precipitously. Some estimates show western Atlantic bluefin tuna down by 90 percent from preindustrial levels. Overfishing may have already pushed bluefin beyond the brink of return. What’s gone wrong?
Mercury: A Persistent Toxin
by Bill ChameidesOct 29, 2008
filed under: mercury, Clean Air Act, animals, air pollution, food, fish, oceans, mercury contamination, pollution
Mercury poisoning has a long history. The phrase "mad as a hatter" (circa 1830s) derives from the slurred speech, tremors and other neurological symptoms displayed by the day's hatmakers – maladies caused by long-term exposure to mercury used in hat-making. Today, the highly toxic metal continues to plague us, and new studies indicate even very low doses of mercury can be risky. But there's at least one way we can safeguard against it – remember, you are what you eat.
Statistical Grok: Weighing Salmon Statistics
by Bill ChameidesAug 08, 2008
filed under: animals, Statistically Speaking, fish, oceans, salmon, food, statistically speaking
As summer gets into full swing and recreational chefs fire up grills, turning plots of land into backyard bistros, chances are high that salmon is on the menu. If so, here are some facts to sink your teeth into before purchasing that salmon steak or fillet –- facts that carry environmental weight.
Strange Connections: Midwest Farms and Floods Killing Gulf Fish?
by Bill ChameidesJul 21, 2008
filed under: dead zone, climate change, fish, oceans, global warming, Mississippi River, Gulf of Mexico
The Earth works in mysterious ways. Meteorologists tell us a butterfly flapping its wings in Asia can potentially give rise to a storm in the Midwest. Now it seems that intense storms in the Midwest can lead to fish dying in the Gulf of Mexico.
Go Green by Eating More of Your Greens
by Bill ChameidesMay 23, 2008
filed under: animals, food, climate change, energy, greenhouse gases, global warming, water, health, water pollution, methane
A recent statistic from the American Museum of Natural History's new water exhibit got me thinking about one of the boldest steps any of us can take to lead a greener life. Before you click, guess how many gallons of water go into a single hamburger?
Biofuels Part 2: Some Are Good, Some Are Bad
by Bill ChameidesMay 21, 2008
filed under: alternative fuel, ethanol, food, climate change, energy, corn ethanol, global warming, cellulosic ethanol, biofuels, ethanol, biofuels
Last week’s topic was why corn ethanol is an environmental loser.
But are all biofuels losers? No. Some can be winners. One of those is called cellulosic ethanol.
Biofuels Part I: Corn Ethanol Isn’t the Solution
by Bill ChameidesMay 21, 2008
filed under: food, climate change, corn, alternative fuel, global warming, ethanol, biofuels
Who doesn’t want to be green? But beware of automobile ads claiming environmental benefits from home-grown ethanol. Almost all U.S. ethanol comes from corn and, as a fuel, corn just isn’t as “amaizing” as they say.
How Congress Is Shortchanging Our Health and Sweetening Things for the Food Industry
by Bill ChameidesMay 21, 2008
filed under: food, corn
At dinner Sunday night, I asked my friend Prasad if he knew about the new farm bill and what it means for average Americans. He didn't.
Here are three reasons why we all should pay closer attention to the 2007 farm bill: food, fuel, and fat.
