Is the future of the environment lies in a loaf of bread?

From global warming to water pollution: the future of the environment lies in a load of bread

By Daniela Ginzburg

From processing grain into flour, oil and even gas to being consumed both by animals and humans - the two main crops grown and produced today are corn and wheat. However, their toll on the environment is high, and as we continue to witness the ongoing effects of global warming, it's time to re-examine the production process of these crops.

For thousands of years, humans have been harvesting grains, transforming them into crops and using them to create food. Moreover, the first agricultural revolution is considered one of humanity's most significant achievements that changed the course of our history. Maybe for that reason, it's hard for us to imagine the implications of its production.

Corn - From cereal to corn starch and vegetable oil – Corn can be found in almost every food we consume. It is also a standard binder and filler found in tablets and capsules, hot dogs, and different meats. And when it’s not grown for all that, it is grown to produce animal feed and ethanol for cars. For example, almost one-third of all US cropland is used for growing corn, and more than a third of the corn is used for animal feed, with another third grown for ethanol.

But corn growing takes a heavy toll as the grain uses extensive water and is considered a “thirsty crop”. In a world affected by climate change and the risk of growing water shortage, it can become more and more challenging to cultivate and produce crops.

Another critical issue in growing corn is the amount of fertiliser needed for the crop to grow, which is way more than other crops. There is a high level of fertiliser pollution in many corn-producing areas while runoff infiltrates water sources like rivers and streams, sometimes causing irreversible environmental damage.

Wheat - When we think about global warming and climate change, we usually think about energy usage, gas emissions from our cars and plastic pollution. We certainly don’t think about it when we chew our favourite sandwich during lunch break.

A study published in 2017 found that over half of the environmental impacts of producing a loaf of bread come from its cultivation - meaning growing and fertilising the crop. The other part, around 40 per cent, comes from the use of ammonium nitrate, a fertiliser which eventually dissolves and pollutes water sources.

Globally, agriculture contributes about one-third of all gas emissions, contributing to global warming - a cycle that doesn’t stop. As temperatures increase and drought spreads, crops struggle to grow correctly, leading to poor harvest and a food shortage, like the one we see in parts of Europe such as Italy.

Changing agricultural practices is not going to be easy, but it’s a must since it harms our water and soil and damages the environment. One of the possible changes farmers can make is to grow more genetically diverse crops instead of mono-crops (growing one single plant, like corn, in a plot). Studies have shown that yields of corn and wheat have proven to increase by up to 20 per cent in highly diversified agricultural systems.

So, with better management and advanced technologies, we can restore our ecosystems and prevent the next generations from dealing with food shortages, pollution and even slow down global warming.