Nicole Bell

Would you lease your water rights? The devil is in the details

Climate change is expected to alter both the availability and demand for water. In the western United States, roughly 80% of surface water is allocated to agricultural uses, and the pressure to find more efficient ways to manage water is on, especially in drought years. Eastern Washington is no exception…

Center pivot irrigation, Eastern Washington

How Do Grocery and Meal Kit Deliveries Impact the Carbon Footprint of Our Food?

I explored opportunities to reduce environmental impact related to food preparation and food waste in previous Perspectives on Sustainability articles. However, transportation in the food supply chain is a significant contributor to carbon emissions: all the transportation and miles in between the farm and your plate are part of …

A cardboard box containing a meal kit.

Out of the Frying Pan and into the Fryer: Climate Mitigation Opportunities for French Fries

Efforts to quantify the carbon footprint of agriculture are often focused on the greenhouse gas emissions resulting from on-farm activities, mostly from fertilizer production and the energy required for use of farm implements. While you, as a climate change-conscious consumer, may place your attention on the environmental impact of…

Baked vs fried french fries