Saving The Environment Starts With Your Food? Our 2020 Environment Goals

 

Yep, you read that title right. Saving the environment can actually begin with what you put on your plate.

This year, Sunday 7^th June 2020 was World Environment Day and a few days before that, on 5^th June 2020, was World Food Safety Day. Without knowing it, there is actually a clear link between food production and the environment.

What you eat could either be good for, or harmful to the environment.

 

Why We Need To Eat Pesticide-Free Produce

 

 

Food is not only a health issue but also an environmental issue.

33% of pesticides used in Kenya are withdrawn in Europe due to the risk they pose to human health and the effects they have on the environment. Food grown with these pesticides can contain chemical residues that are proven to cause diseases such as cancer, diabetes and even affect mental health. Better monitoring of the pesticides used on farms is a sure way of countering the spike in cancer cases and other diseases that our country is currently facing.

Pesticides are just as harmful to this planet we call home. They damage the soil health as they strip it of its nutrients, which ultimately affects the food quality. Furthermore, they can be toxic to birds, bees, butterflies and other important species.

These chemicals can also easily find their way into water systems affecting downstream communities.

 

Pesticides Link To Climate Change

 

 

In late 2018, an estimated one million bees died in Cape Town, South Africa due to poisoning from Cape Town’s wine farms. Two years later in March 2020, environmentalist Jack Raini told Nation that he predicts the same fate in Samburu, Isiolo and Marsabit counties.

Massive spraying of pesticides has been underway in the counties over the past three months. This threatens the livelihood of pastoralist communities which depend on livestock and beekeeping. This could seriously affect and compromise the biodiversity in these regions due to the harmful effects of pesticides on the animals and birds who may feed on the dead insects or sprayed plants.

Producing food in a sustainable way using recycled resources offers more benefits. From a business point of view, studies have proven the yield from organic farming is greater. The food is better quality and can, therefore, have trade benefits due to the international demand for organic food. Everyone wins.

Farmers need not rely on expensive inputs and chemicals to grow our food.

 

Simple Goals For The Environment In 2020 We Should All Start

 

 

So now on to a few goals we have set for ourselves here at Essential to help us become better citizens of this planet we call home. We encourage you to join us and share a few tips of your own.

 

1. Vote With Your Fork: Go For Pesticide-Free Produce

 

 

Ms. Winfrey recently shared a video on her Instagram page of her latest harvest of a giant cabbage from her home garden. She proudly comments on how no pesticides are used in her garden and all her food is clean. Now that is life goals!

If you don’t have a home garden, you can instead support local self-sufficient smallholder farmers. They do not use harmful pesticides but instead use traditional methods such as intercropping and mulching. This is good for the soil and is more resilient to climate change.

Tuskys stock on organic food supplied by smallholder farmers and are worth your support. We shared a few pointers on where to get pesticide-free produce locally in this article.

If you’re a small scale farmer, use social media to market your organic food. Sharing is caring.

 

2. Reduce. Reuse. Recycle

Less plastic is the name of the game. We are huge fans of recyclable cups, water bottles, straws and grocery bags here at Essential and think they’re totally worth investing in. If you do happen to have plastic items, be sure to recycle or reuse them.

 

 

3. Trash Belongs In The Bin

It may sound like a simple point to share, but evidently, a couple of us just need to be reminded. One of our favourite challenges seen on social media this year is taking before and after photos of a dirty beach all cleaned up, with trash sorted and collected in bags.

Pages like Trashion.Ke and Mombasa Coast Conservation on Instagram have organized beach cleanups, and it would be worth participating in. You don’t even need to do this as a group, and you can start in your neighbourhood or wherever you are. Sticking to social distancing rules and observing strict hygiene, turn this into a project for one of those days you’re feeling bored.

 

 

4. Support Causes You Believe In

 

 

Granted, we all can’t be on the front line stopping poachers or planting trees. But what we can do is contribute to causes that aim to protect the rich biodiversity of our country.

In Kenya for example, the DSWT has been doing a great job at protecting elephants and rhinos from poaching. They also rescue cubs whose parents were killed and can let you adopt a baby elephant. Donating money to these causes will help support their good work.

 

5. Save The Bees

Have you ever considered becoming a bee farmer? It is a worthy investment and plays a huge role in natural ways of pollination and the health of the ecosystem. Watch this interview Sharon Mundia did with Joan Kinyanjui, CEO and founder of Yatta Beekeepers, on the business of bee farming to learn more.

 

6. It Takes A Village, So Get More People Involved

 

 

We have to take a more active stance towards protecting the environment.

Share this article with others so it may encourage them to want to implement some positive changes for the environment. Teamwork makes the dream work.

 

This article was created in collaboration with the Route to Food Initiative.

 

Suggested read: Beginner’s Guide To Adopting A Zero Waste Lifestyle: Kitchen & Food Edition