Food
Waste

The provided map shows the land use for livestock production in the United States. The map indicates that over one-third of the land area in the contiguous United States is used for livestock production, with much of it dedicated to grazing.

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Food production and food waste have significant impacts on greenhouse gas emissions. Food production, including activities such as farming, livestock rearing, and food processing, is responsible for 25% of global emissions. Specifically, food production accounts for 12% of global emissions, while livestock rearing alone accounts for 14.5% of global emissions.

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Additionally, when food is wasted it ends up in landfills where it decomposes and produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas that is significantly more damaging than carbon dioxide. Food waste is responsible for 8% of global emissions, equivalent to the emissions of the entire transportation sector.

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Reducing food waste can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. By reducing food waste, we can reduce the amount of methane produced in landfills and also reduce the resources used in food production. Adopting more sustainable farming practices, such as reducing the use of fertilizers and pesticides, can help reduce emissions from food production.