| Title | Shorter fries or the clean-Earth potato concept for nitrogen and water management under a changing climate
|
| |
| Author | Savard, M M ;
Somers, G |
| Source | AGU Science Policy Conference 2014, abstracts; 2014 p. 1 
Open Access |
| Links | Online - En ligne
|
| Image |  |
| Year | 2014 |
| Alt Series | Earth Sciences Sector, Contribution Series 20150024 |
| Publisher | American Geophysical Union |
| Meeting | AGU Science Policy Conference 2014; Washington, DC; US; June 16-18, 2014 |
| Document | Web site |
| Lang. | English |
| Media | digital; on-line |
| File format | html; pdf |
| Province | Prince Edward Island |
| NTS | 11E/15; 11E/16; 11L; 21I/08; 21I/09; 21I/16; 21P/01 |
| Lat/Long WENS | -64.5000 -61.7500 47.1333 45.9167 |
| Subjects | hydrogeology; geochemistry; Nature and Environment; Agriculture; Economics and Industry; nitrogen; water quality; groundwater resources; groundwater pollution; environmental impacts; ecosystems; Climate
change; Water management; Fertilizers; Economics; Markets; Imports; Vegetable crops; Potatoes; Drinking water; cumulative effects |
| Program | Environmental Geoscience Coal & Oil Resources Environmental Sustainability |
| Released | 2014 06 01 |
| Abstract | Producing food for the growing population of the world poses significant challenges for the sustainability of global ecosystems. A prime example is the degradation of water quality due to the
aggravating imbalance in the terrestrial nitrogen (N) cycle linked to increasing use of N-bearing fertilizers. Related environmental impacts such as groundwater quality degradation and eutrophication of coastal estuaries tend to be local in nature
but are closely connected to global economic factors. In this presentation, we examine the N budget for Prince Edward Island (PEI), Canada, and estimate the overall N fluxes entering and leaving the island, the fate of N remaining in the province,
and the relationships between local environmental and economic conditions, and global market trends. Agricultural activities, especially potato production, dominate the PEI N cycle, and N imports, largely in the potentially harmful reactive form
(Nr), which far exceed quantities of harmless N fixed in food products exported from PEI. The resulting burden of the remaining Nr in the province has its most profound effect on groundwater, the sole source of drinking water and the primary pathway
of N to estuarine ecosystems. We also know that the effects of one potential adaptation scenario by the agricultural sector to climate change could significantly increase the Nr transfer to groundwater and intensify its degradation.
It seems
overall that adoption of innovative approaches to nutrient management is hindered by a lack of incentives for producers, and global consumer preferences for specific potato product features such as long fries (production of big tubers prevents
cultivation of cover crops which help reduce environmental impacts). A new global strategic approach may help circumvent some of the non-technical barriers to sustainable food production practices. We therefore introduce the concept of the
clean-Earth potato to promote consumer demand for potatoes produced in an ecologically sustainable fashion, including perhaps, a preference for shorter French fries. |
| Summary | (Plain Language Summary, not published)
The imbalance in the Earth's nitrogen (N) cycle linked to the increasing production of potentially harmful reactive N (Nr) entails environmental impacts
such as groundwater quality degradation and eutrophication of coastal estuaries, which are dominantly local in nature but closely connected to global economic factors. In this research, we examine the overall N fluxes to and from Prince Edward Island
(PEI), the fate of N remaining in PEI, and the links between local and global environmental and economic trends. Potato production dominates the PEI N cycle, and N imports largely as Nr far exceed quantities of harmless N fixed in exported food
products, as pattern that could be aggravated by adaptation to climate change. The Nr remaining in the province has negative effects on groundwater, the sole source of drinking water and the primary pathway of N to estuaries. To counteract this
trend, adoption of innovative approaches to nutrient management may include a new global strategy based on influencing consumers toward sustainable purchase choices, such as eating shorter French fries. |
| GEOSCAN ID | 296361 |
|
|