Lesson 11

Question 1

what is a wicked problem ?

Answer 1

one that is difficult to solve because of incomplete or contradictory information

Question 2

what did Mark Sagoff say about environmentalist groups ?

Answer 2

that environmentalist groups are split into either hedgehogs (know one big thing, focus on one central issue) or foxes (know many things, environmental issues as multifaceted)

Question 3

which environmentalist groups see wicked problems ?

Answer 3

foxes

Question 4

what is IPAT

Answer 4

the hedgehog perspective that our Impact on the land is a consequence of Population growth, Affluence, and Techology

Question 5

what is the hedgehog perspective ?

Answer 5

we eat cooked food.
however, this creates a much larger environmental footprint
I=PAT : agriculture will always have an impact on the land

Question 6

which gas is converted in agriculture ?

Answer 6

unreactive to reactive forms (nitrogen)

Question 7

what are dead zones ?

Answer 7

areas in which fertilizer runoff has created Dead zones are hypoxic (low-oxygen) areas in the world’s oceans and large lakes, caused by “excessive nutrient pollution from human activities coupled with other factors that deplete the oxygen required to support most marine life in bottom and near-bottom water.

Question 8

why are dead zones bad ?

Answer 8

because they are hypoxic, meaning that few organisms can live there

Question 9

how do dead zones form ?

Answer 9

when excess nutrients (primarily nitrogen and phosphorus) enter coastal waters and help fertilize blooms of algae.
rapid increase in density of phytoplankton

Question 10

dead zones are associated with the hedgehog or fox perspective ?

Answer 10

hedgehog

Question 11

what is the fox’s critique of hedgehogs ?

Answer 11

if you focus only on one part of the food system, we can unwittingly increase the environmental burden to other steps along the chain

Question 12

what percentage of what we grow ends up in the garbage ?

Answer 12

40%

Question 13

what is a disadvantage of rainfed agriculture (80% of crops)

Answer 13

in hot, dry countries this limits the amount of crops and causes soil erosion

Question 14

what is irrigated agriculture ?

Answer 14

water extracted from aquifers below ground using 70-80% of global freshwater

Question 15

what is virtual water ?

Answer 15

the amount of water used to grow a particular food

Question 16

how is virtual water expressed ?

Answer 16

kcal/m^3

Question 17

which chicken requires more virtual water: organic or less active ?

Answer 17

organic

Question 18

what are three methods of food that affect sustainability?

Answer 18

production
transport
preparation

Question 19

what is the most effective way of calculating food kilometers ?

Answer 19

tons/kilometer

or km /fruit

Question 20

how does sprouting affect the environment

Answer 20

sprouting: less kcal from carbs bc the lentil embryo uses up its unsprouted kcal to grow

this is a form of food waste

Question 21

what is the best way to eat sustainably from the meat and alternatives food group ? (5)

Answer 21

eat less meat
opt for more legumes (unsprouted) 
grass fed meat
organic chicken 
eat the whole animal

Question 22

what is the best way to eat sustainably from the grain products food group ?

Answer 22

reduce grains intake since legumes are a great source of protein and fiber

Question 23

what is the best way to eat sustainably from the fruits and veggies food group ?

Answer 23

eat 5 servings, but be careful about the source of the vegetables and don’t generalize

Question 24

is good nutrition a wicked problem ?

Answer 24

no