Sunisa Kanchanakul reports
Fried chicken wings and cheese pizza are some of America’s favorite foods. The consumption rate of chicken and cheese is therefore very high and the numbers are increasing day by day.
The United States has been grappling with an ever-growing groundwater crisis for many years. But when the table is full of chicken and cheese Chicken and dairy farms will also inevitably have to expand their surface area. Precious groundwater is pumped for these two types of farming. Including use in soybean cultivation. corn and alfalfa, which are staple food for chickens and cows It amounts to worsening the groundwater crisis in the United States. become more violent than expected
Large-scale chicken farming poses an unexpected threat to the environment in many ways.
Chicken meat grows faster than beef.
Traditionally, Americans prefer beef and pork to chicken. But in recent decades, meat consumption trends in the United States are starting to change from what they were before
Chicken has become an increasingly popular protein: As of 2022, American chicken consumption has increased from 64.4 pounds per person in 1990 to 90.4 pounds per person in 2022. That’s as many chickens per capita as that of every American.
The graph shows the rate of chicken consumption American pork (yellow curve) continues to rise, overtaking pork. (red curve) and is on par with beef consumption. (light gray curve) while the consumption of fish products (dark gray graph line) is relatively stable. Image source:
The reason is the convenience of purchasing. The price is lower than other meats. Including the commercialization of commercial enterprises, the popularity of fast food and processed foods has increased compared to before. Responding to Needs Chicken production in the United States has nearly doubled since 1990, or more than 28 billion pounds per year.
Cheese gained momentum from pizza.
Consumption of American cheese has increased dramatically. Data from the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) shows that American cheese consumption will increase on average from 30.3 pounds per person in 1990 to 50.8 pounds per person in 2022. Half a pound per person every week.
Pizza is the main driver of cheese consumption. But cheese is popular in sandwiches, salads, pasta and other snacks. It is also a contributing factor to the overall increase in American cheese consumption.
Pick the flowers that touch the stars
Who would have thought that these two trends were so seemingly independent? Instead, they are tied together until they become a difficult problem to solve. Incredible that the frenzy of consumption, changed compared to before, becomes a karma that will aggravate the country’s important problems regarding resources and the environment. But it’s already happened.
Poultry production requires a large amount of water during breeding and processing. Not only that Corn and soy are the main ingredients of chicken feed. It is also a plant that requires a lot of water to grow.
Cheese, a popular ingredient in many American foods, is a dairy product. The growth in cheese consumption is having a serious impact on the groundwater crisis in the United States, as dairy production is one of the most water-intensive industries in the world.
To produce 1 liter of milk, 1,800 liters of water are needed.
According to a U.S. Department of Agriculture survey, the dairy industry is the third largest user of groundwater in the United States. It uses approximately 2.3 billion liters of groundwater per year.
Groundwater has declined to the point of concern.
Groundwater crisis in the United States It is a problem that has existed for a long time and is becoming increasingly serious. The main cause is climate change. This causes the amount of rain to decrease and temperatures to increase. The amount of groundwater has decreased rapidly.
More than a third of Americans, or about 115 million people, rely on groundwater for everyday use, agriculture and industry. The US Geological Survey estimates that…
Approximately 82.3 billion liters of groundwater are pumped every day. which is too high for nature to replenish water in the system in time
This overuse has caused groundwater levels to plummet across the country. Especially in the Western United States. It’s pretty dry. In recent decades, the amount of water in some aquifers has decreased by hundreds of meters.
Groundwater depletion is affecting drinking water sources. This has forced many communities to turn to more expensive alternatives to using groundwater, such as producing freshwater from saltwater. Farmers are facing the problem of decreasing production. Ecosystems are also destabilized as plant and animal habitats become drier than they were in the past.
great challenge
Groundwater crisis in the United States It is not a challenge that cannot be overcome. It just takes a lot of effort. It is important to increase awareness and efficient use of water by individuals and industries. Adopt various technologies and explore alternative water sources such as treated wastewater and rainwater. It can effectively reduce the dependence on groundwater.
The US government is not complacent and has sought a comprehensive response to the groundwater crisis. There is funding to support water conservation projects. Enact water infrastructure investment legislation with an appropriation of $8.1 billion. investing in an efficient irrigation system Leak detection and repair and water reuse technology as well as conducting extensive research on groundwater resources Mapping aquifers and monitoring water levels
New rules and policies have been established and strictly enforced. Restrictions on groundwater pumping have been enacted in states such as California and Arizona, establishing and enforcing national standards to protect groundwater from contamination and ensure sustainable water management.
Including the detection of alternative water sources. Invest in seawater desalination to turn seawater into fresh water. Promote the reuse of treated wastewater for irrigation. industrial process Support rainwater harvesting systems at both individual and community levels.
And what is being done in tandem is to raise public awareness through public relations campaigns about the importance of water conservation and responsible use of groundwater. Including support for water education in schools to instill the value of caring for water in new generations.
These are just some of the guidelines implemented by the US government. ongoing But to be successful takes determination. Stakeholder cooperation Seeking more efficient technological innovations and establishing strict guidelines for water management. To long preserve the flow of life that flows underground.
Reference information:
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/12/24/climate/groundwater-crisis-chicken-cheese.html
https://www.idfa.org/news/recorddairyconsumption
https://www.usgs.gov/mission-areas/water-resources/science/science-topics/water-availability-and-use
https://study.com/academy/lesson/environmental-problems-associated-with-groundwater.html
2023-12-30 05:59:35
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