Environmental Science Question

Learning Goal: I’m working on a environmental science multi-part question and need the explanation and answer to help me learn.

This authentic assessment requires you to devote time over a few days to successfully complete all requirements. Please read through these instructions so that you know what is to be included in your final submission early enough in order to be able to complete the assignment. You may choose to use the attached template to help you organize your information.

Part 1: Pick a Meal

1. Begin by choosing a meal and take a clear picture of it. You may pick any meal (breakfast, lunch, or dinner), as long as your meal has at least 3 components (protein, carbohydrates, vegetables, etc). For example, your meal could be oven-roasted chicken, sweet potatoes, and a side salad. It will be easiest to choose a homemade meal, however, if you know all of the ingredients in a meal that you consumed at a restaurant, that is acceptable too.
2. For this meal, make a list of ALL ingredients required to prepare it (although you only need the research for 3 of them).

Part 2: Grocery Store

1. With your list, travel to a grocery store of your choosing. You may use the grocery store you usually go to.
2. Choose 3 of the food ingredients (not condiments, not spices) from your list to research. For each of the ingredients, you should research:
   1. Price per unit (traditional)
   2. Location grown/harvested
   3. Picture of product in grocery store on shelf with price and location grown (can be two pictures)
   4. Price per unit (organic/sustainable) There must be either an “organic” or “sustainable” label on the food (not “all natural” or a derivative…this means nothing from a scientific perspective)
   5. Location grown/harvested (organic/sustainable)
   6. Picture of product in grocery store with this information

Note: You have an extensive list of ingredients from your meal. You will not be able to find location grown/harvested for every single product. You must choose 3 food ingredients from your list that have this information available. If the store does not carry an organic version of the item or the location is not listed, then you need to choose a different item.

Part 3: Analysis

For each of your 3 ingredients (both traditional and organic version) that you have researched at the grocery store, answer the following questions:

How many miles did this product travel to get to the store? ( Use Google Maps to figure this out. Note: This is NOT HOW FAR YOU DROVE TO THE STORE!). For countries, just put the country in. Assuming the truck that the product traveled on averaged 6 miles per gallon
Links to an external site. and that diesel is averaging $3.10/gallon
Links to an external site., and that each gallon of diesel produces 10 kg of carbon dioxide
Links to an external site., how much in fuel costs (#miles ÷ 6mi/gal x $3.10/gal) and how much carbon dioxide (#miles ÷
6mi/gal x 10 kg/gal) was emitted to bring that food product to the store?

Answer these questions after you have answered all others:

1. Is there a difference between fuel costs or carbon dioxide emissions with either variety? If so, why?
2. What environmental issues come from the harvesting/growing of the traditional variety?
3. Why does the organic product cost more than the traditional product?
4. How can you reduce the amount of carbon dioxide emitted from the food that you eat?