Insects as a Sustainable Food Source

fried grasshopper or belalang goreng is traditional food from southeast asia, served with sambal, onion, garlic, chili on wood background

Insects, often referred to as “mini-livestock,” have garnered increasing attention as a sustainable food source due to their numerous environmental, nutritional, and economic benefits. While insects as a food source is not a new concept, it is gaining in popularity in Western countries and can be found in some eco-forward grocery stores in the United […]

Trees that Sequester the Most Carbon

Hundreds of trees in a forest.

Several factors influence a tree’s capacity to sequester carbon, including its growth rate, lifespan, and the density of its wood. While fast-growing trees with dense wood tend to sequester more carbon over a shorter period, it’s crucial to consider the ecosystem context. This understanding is key to identifying the most suitable trees for specific regions […]

Eco-Friendly Materials: Mushrooms in Construction

A cracked cap polypore fungus grows on a tree trunk in Indiana.

Using mushrooms in construction may sound insane. But a remarkable trend is emerging in the construction industry: the use of mushrooms as building materials. Yes, you read that right. Mushrooms are those humble fungi we often associate with culinary applications, yet they are finding their way into the very foundations of our built environment. This […]

Is Starbucks Underreporting its Greenhouse Gas Footprint?

Two Starbucks coffee cups sitting on a table next to a plant.

Starbucks has been my go-to spot when I travel. My favorites are their oatmeal, Pikes Place drip coffee with soy milk or, when I feel like splurging, a coconut milk cappuccino. Starbucks’ global presence and consistency of products and experience bring a sense of dependability and comfort to millions of consumers daily. But while they […]

Why a Plant-Based Diet is More Sustainable

Woman farmer agronomist inspecting cabbage crops growing in the farm field.

“Meat produces more emissions per unit of energy compared with that of plant-based foods because energy is lost at each trophic level.” –Godfray et al. Science, July 2018 This short video is intended to help explain why eating a plant-centered dietary pattern is better for the environment. Additional Information: Godfray et al., Meat consumption, health, and the […]

Would you like fries with that?

Asian happy boy eating insect hamburger.

It may be hard for some to imagine, but many people around the world eat insects as their primary source of “animal” protein. With the increasing number and intensity of hurricanes from warming temperatures and growing algal blooms due to nutrient runoff from factory farms, coupled with a growing population expected to reach 9.8 billion by 2050, the food system we […]

Food and Climate Change

Cow standing in the meadow looking at the camera.

I can’t seem to open a newspaper or scroll through social media and not see at least one article or blog post about climate change. But it seems that very few are discussing the elephant in the room: our food choices. Yes, we must reduce, reuse, and recycle our paper, plastic, glass, and aluminum cans. […]