As I intend to dedicate the better part of my career to research, I am often confronted with the fear that even the highest quality data can end up out in the ether of peer-reviewed publications that never make their intended splash, seen by a limited few and impacting even fewer. Last Friday I attended Baltimore City Data Day, held at the University of Baltimore, which was the product of the work of AmeriCorps Vista volunteers, in collaboration with the Baltimore City Department of Planning and Health and the Baltimore Neighborhood Indicators Alliance - Jacob France Institute (BNIA-JFI). The goal of the free-to-register conference was to inform community organizations and residents about how to access different neighborhood-based data in order to “help communities expand their capacity to use technology and data to advance their goals.” The idea of allowing data that is collected at all tiers to be used for bottom-up action and advocacy sits well with me. Filtering data back to the communities that they are collected from, in order to strengthen the communities’ own agendas, begins to quell my fears about an academic research career and the uneasiness I feel about the town-gown tension that has historically plagued Johns Hopkins University.

The conference crowd was a mix of community organization representatives, interested citizens and data collectors and researchers. All in attendance received a binder of references for data resources, organized by neighborhood resources, economic development, crime and public safety, public health, housing, environment and 2000 Census information. In addition, there was a grants section with lists of diverse grants available for community organizations and residents to apply to and tips on writing strong grant applications. In this post, I will summarize some of the key resources I encountered throughout the day. For more information on the conference, the agenda, and some of the final presentations, click here.

The morning started with a poster session, followed by a panel discussion on Perspectives on Exploring Your Community Through Data. Kathryn Pettit, Co-Director of the National Neighborhoods Indicators Partnership (NNIP) and Senior Associate at the Urban Institute, highlighted the need to spend resources wisely and to look at communities as a whole, to avoid the warring between silos that may fight for different causes, but share the goal of improving their community. NNIP is a collaboration between the Urban Institute and 34 local partners nationwide that focuses on direct data use by stakeholders to advance the state of practice, build and strengthen local capacity and influence local and national policy. In 2004, they were instrumental in repealing a Rhode Island ban that stopped felons convicted of selling drugs and the felons’ families from ever receiving benefits from the Family Independence Program or Food Stamps. They did so by using data on how many children of felons were being adversely affected by the ban. Continue reading »

By Sarah Rodman. Filed under: Equity, Population, Public Health.

Cultivating an Ecological Conscience: Essays from a Farmer Philosopher
by Frederick L. Kirschenmann
A collection of Kirschenmann’s greatest writings on farming, philosophy, and sustainability
Theologian, academic, and third-generation organic farmer Frederick L. Kirschenmann is a celebrated agricultural thinker. In the last thirty years he has tirelessly promoted the principles of sustainability and has become a legend in his own right. Marion Nestle says, “Kirschenmann is right up there with the other agronomic philosophers-Wendell Berry and Wes Jackson. His book is an unfailingly interesting reflection on his own farming experience. It should inspire everyone to start planting and to think deeply about the food we eat.”

The CAFO Reader
edited by Daniel Imhoff
A collection of essays by farmers Wendell Berry, Becky Weed, and Fred Kirschenmann, Republican speech writer Matthew Scully, journalist Michael Pollan, and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., among many others
The CAFO Reader gives a full picture of the environmental, social, and ethical implications of Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO), and includes a section of essays on “Putting the CAFO Out to Pasture.” A CAFO is an Environmental Protection Agency designation for a farming facility that keeps numerous animals raised for food in close confinement, with the potential to pollute. These facilities often produce extreme amounts of waste, which ends up in toxic lagoons, sprayed on the land, and eventually in the watershed; require the use of high doses of antibiotics, thereby adding to the growth of drug-resistant bacteria; and are exempt from most animal cruelty laws. Continue reading »

By livablefuture. Filed under: Agriculture, Climate Change, Diet, Environment, Food Production, Food Systems, Public Health.

By my estimation, seventy-five-year-old author Dr. Sylvia Earle has spent more than 1% of her life underwater. If her dives were connected in time, it would be as if she slipped into the ocean on New Year’s Day and did not re-emerge until some time after Labor Day.

Her book chronicles her experiences as a 1960s pioneer in underwater exploration, with stirring accounts of the inquisitive fish and mammals she met in the deep blue. Anthropomorphizing these animals would be an insult, given all the trouble humans have caused by overfishing, pollution, and acidification of the oceans. With these issues, she deftly takes an animal’s perspective in deconstructing our troubled oceans.

I once found an enterprising hermit crab with its vulnerable posterior neatly tucked into a discarded Bayer aspirin bottle, a modern, lightweight, durable substitute for a traditional snail shell. A decorator crab on a nearby reef had artfully placed a disposable fast-food ketchup envelope on its back along with bits of algae, hydroids and normal camouflaging elements. The ketchup container actually helped the crab blend in with other trash.

Over half of all humans live near the coast where impacts are felt from habitat destruction to overfishing. One report in the journal Nature found industrial fishing has removed 90% of all large fish from the ocean. As oceanic currents sweep away human litter, a convergence of garbage is amassing in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. To make a small dent in the trash issue, Earle tells of the Ocean Conservancy’s yearly coastal clean-up that in 2008 drew participants from 100 countries, collecting 6.8 million tons of trash with the top 10 offenders being: 1) cigarette butts; 2) plastic bags; 3) food containers; 4) caps and lids; 5) plastic bottles; 6) paper bags; 7) straws and stirrers;  8) cups, plates, eating utensils; 9) glass bottles; and 10) beverage cans. So many of these items are food related, which is a sign to me that our food system is in disrepair. Continue reading »

By Davelove. Filed under: Climate Change, Environment, Food Production, Food Systems, Industrial Food Animal Production, Uncategorized, Videos.

You may have seen online tools such as the Footprint Network that allow you to estimate your impact on the environment and offer somewhat conservative lifestyle suggestions on how to lower one’s impact (taking it easy on the thermostat, more public transportation… you know the drill).

Well, what would happen if you took all those suggestions and then some? Colin Beavan, known as No Impact Man, took on quite a difficult task when he (and his wife and 2-year old daughter) decided to attempt a life with no net impact on the environment.

Sick of government inaction on climate issues, Beavan decided to take matters into his own hands. In other words, “no trash, no carbon emissions, no toxins in the water, no elevators, no subway, no products in packaging, no plastics, no air conditioning, no TV, no toilets…”

It was a radical idea, but that was the point. Beavan wanted to find out just how hard it would be, in our throw-away culture, to avoid generating waste. They bought their food at farmers markets and from bulk bins at grocery stores using reusable containers, they composted in their Manhattan apartment, and they did their laundry in the bathtub with homemade soap.

They faced some unexpected challenges along the way—including public backlash and ridicule for Beavan’s wife Michelle Conlin, a senior writer for Business Week, when people found out they were even eschewing toilet paper. It was interesting to watch the documentary from Conlin’s perspective—because although she respected the experiment, she did not defend every piece of it. Her view was a refreshing alternative to Beavan himself, who, although well-intentioned, could sometimes come across as a bit self-important.

Since I watched the documentary last month, I’ve been thinking more about the final destination of that Starbucks cup, plastic bag or pizza box. When we throw things away, we tend to not think about it anymore. It’s gone…so it no longer exists, right? Perhaps the first step is a greater awareness of the landfill-bound byproducts of our consumption—and that’s where No Impact Man can help us consider alternatives to the status quo.

Colin’s goal was not to turn everyone into “No Impact people”, but rather to get people to think about their choices and what changes they could institute in their lives. So what do you think? After seeing the documentary or checking out the blog, are you inspired to reduce your impact? What steps do you think you could take– and which ones would be way too much to ask?

- Patti Truant

By ptruant. Filed under: Environment.

In a recent Mother Jones article, writer Kiera Butler asks the experts if eating responsibly raised meat can actually be good for the planet.  One of the responses comes from Joel Salatin, star of Food, Inc., Fresh and a personal hero of mine.  Joel makes some strong points that uphold the merits of an ethically- and environmentally-sound diet that includes animal products.  However, one of his arguments struck me as unsound:

“…far more herbivores (bison) existed in the Americas 600 years ago than exist today: The notion that methane from burping herbivores causes climate change is both unscientific and ridiculous.”

With all due respect to Joel, here’s why I think he’s missing the mark.

Continue reading »

By Bkim. Filed under: Agriculture, Climate Change, Food Production, Industrial Food Animal Production.

The CBS Evening News with Katie Couric aired yet another report last night detailing the risks associated with feeding antibiotics to farm animals. The report is a follow-up to a series aired in February and reported on here in the LivableFutureBlog.  In last night’s report, Couric covers Wedneday’s Congressional hearing held to determine whether or not the feeding of antibiotics to healthy farm animals could pose a significant health risk to humans. This was the third, and final, Congressional hearing on antibiotic resistance. At the hearing of the House Energy and Commerce subcommittee, a representative of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) finally caught up with the rest of the world—and his peers at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)—and admitted that the use of antibiotics in farm animal feed is contributing to the growing problem of deadly antibiotic resistance in America.Dr. John Clifford, Deputy Administrator for Veterinary Services for the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) read from his previously submitted testimony that the USDA believes it is likely that U.S. use of antibiotics in animal agriculture does lead to some cases of resistance in humans and the animals.

The Center for a Livable Future submitted a written statement to the House Committee. “The Food & Drug Administration recently released a draft “guidance document” that reviewed the evidence linking antimicrobial resistance to food animal production,” Dr. Robert S. Lawrence, Director of the Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future wrote. ” FDA concludes, ‘Using medically important antimicrobial drugs for production purposes is not in the interest of protecting and promoting public health.’ FDA clearly supports the conclusions of public health researchers discussed here, and has begun taking action in response to antimicrobial resistance accelerated by animal agriculture. No scientific debate exists on these issues–only political questions remain.

“I commend members for their leadership on this topic, and urge further action to fully prohibit using antimicrobial drugs for growth promotion and prophylaxis. Preserving the efficacy of antimicrobials in human medicine require immediate action, and I urge Congress to move quickly in taking steps to protect the public’s health.”

As reported previously in the LivableFutureBlog, a bill to limit the use of antibiotics–H.R. 1549, Preservation of Antibiotics for Medical Treatment Act–is awaiting committee action.

Many other influential media outlets are giving the issue of antibiotics in animal feed significant coverage. A recent article in DesMoinesRegister.com, “Antibiotics in livestock affects humans, USDA testifies,” notes the “Agriculture Department, which livestock producers have traditionally relied on to advocated for their interests, backed the idea of a link between animal use of antibiotics and human health.”

By Chris. Filed under: Agriculture, Environment, Food and Farm Policy, Industrial Food Animal Production.

A few months ago, I described a segment on the Chinese state television’s English channel about food as part of the “low carbon life” in China. The program explored this new lifestyle through the burgeoning vegetarian restaurant scene in Beijing, and a handful of consumers who claimed to eschew meat out of consideration for the environment. It was a bit narrow in focus but suggested that some people are making this connection, and reducing their meat consumption as a consequence.

The question of whether the Chinese are indeed considering the climate impact of their food choices is one of many I am asking during my travels in China this month on my Innovations Grant. Meat consumption is rising at a fierce pace in China; according to the most recent figures from the FAO,  beef consumption in China will increase by 1.5 million tons and sheep meat by more than 1 million tons within the decade (both products are benefiting from a current hotpot craze, supplanting ever-popular pork in many urban restaurants). This is a phenomenon that has many experts (especially those in the West) from the food security, public health, food safety, animal welfare, and environmental communities in a tizzy. I can say that two weeks in  I don’t perceive most urban consumers in Beijing as pondering the environmental costs of their beloved pork-filled dumplings or roast duck or beef-garnished noodles or food production in general. Continue reading »

By Eliza Barclay. Filed under: Climate Change, Diet, Environment.

Carolyn Pomodoro eagerly greeted us with “Do you need any tomato plants?  Which plot is yours?  I’ll drop them off whenever you want!”

This past winter, Carolyn started over 600 heirloom variety tomato plants under grow lights in her Hampden home, a neighborhood in North Baltimore.  She intended to sell or give them to neighbors and farmers but she was waylaid during prime planting season.  She didn’t have the heart to let her tomato plants die so she put 100 of them into her 150 square feet plot in the Roosevelt Park City Farm, a community garden built and managed by Baltimore City’s Department of Recreation and Parks City Farms.  Although Carolyn knows that they are too close together to thrive, she is relieved that at least some of her “babies” made it into the ground.   On her porch, tomato plants are still looking for an in-ground home.

Roosevelt Park City Farm is filled with more than tomato plants:  corn, collards, peppers, eggplant and, appropriately, a plastic pink Flamingo, the Hampden mascot. Gardeners decorate plots with elaborate trellises, stone pathways, wooden benches, and brightly colored flowers to attract bees and butterflies.  This garden, although one of the smallest, is the newest of City Farm-supported gardens, replacing the original garden site in Roosevelt Park. It features 32 plots, vintage water spigots, and a woodchip pathway, all enclosed in tall black fencing.  Currently, 18 people are eagerly waiting for an open garden plot.  Plots turn over only if the current gardener doesn’t take care of his plot or voluntarily gives it up. Continue reading »

By livablefuture. Filed under: Agriculture, Climate Change, Diet, Environment, Uncategorized.

Leadership at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) made it abundantly clear last week that the low-dose usage of antibiotics in food animals, simply to promote growth or improve feed efficiency, needlessly contributes to the emergence of antibiotic resistant bacteria and poses a serious threat to public health. Despite the fact that the FDA is taking a hard-line stance on the issue, I find it frustrating to see that the agency appears to be hamstrung from taking the necessary steps to mandate industry end the risky practice. Even more exasperating is that it appears that the FDA may actually relax a current directive that already regulates antibiotic use. However, unlike many critics, I don’t believe that this is an example of the Obama administration buckling under industry pressure. Rather, I view it as a loud and stern call for Congress to take action. Producers concerned more about profit than protecting public health are not going to cut their dependence on non-therapeutic antibiotic use in food animals unless lawmakers pass strict legislation.

Continue reading »

By Ralph Loglisci. Filed under: Agriculture, Food Production, Food Systems, Food and Farm Policy, Industrial Food Animal Production, Public Health.

As the Baltimore City Public Schools system continues the transformation of its food service for more than 80,000 kids (see food revolution), a new survey reveals that students and parents are hungry for more. Melissa Mahoney, the districts “top chef”, nutritionist and dietitian , sent out the survey to measure opinions about the ongoing changes and what they’d like to see in the future. Some of the biggest changes include the introduction of Meatless Monday menu options, fresh local fruits, and the creation of the Great Kids Farm as an education center focused on food and agriculture.

The survey link was presented to parents and students on the March, April and May school menus that are sent home in addition to being permanently placed on the “What you need to know” section of the district website.  Parents and students were encouraged complete a web-based survey reflecting their opinions about current menu items and preferences not only for future specific menu items, but attitudes about how the district should be focusing its initiatives. Continue reading »

By jnicholl. Filed under: Diet, Environment, Food Systems, Food and Farm Policy, Public Health, Uncategorized.