Have you ever considered the impact of your shopping habits on the environment? It’s important to realize that agriculture and food production have a significant impact on the environment, and consumers can play a vital role in reducing this impact with their purchasing decisions.
Historically, the majority of the earth’s surface was wilderness, including forests, grasslands, and deserts. However, in the last few hundred years, agriculture has replaced these wild habitats. Less than 5% of non-desert or non-ice land was used for agriculture a millennium ago. Today, farmland takes up over half of habitable land, with forests covering the rest, and a small percentage of land being dedicated to grasslands, freshwater, and urban areas.
As consumers, we can also make a difference by reducing our environmental impact through our shopping choices. For instance, walking or biking to the store instead of driving can help reduce carbon emissions. Choosing locally produced food and sustainable packaging options can also decrease the overall carbon footprint of our grocery shopping. To find out more about how you can help protect the environment, refer to the accompanying resource.
