1 | The Life Cycle of Food 11. TheLifeCycleofFood Far from innocuous, eating is one of our daily activities that has the biggest impact on the on impact biggest the has that activities daily our of one is eating innocuous, from Far neetn, s suet t big food bring analyze. to to them favoriteforsnacks students their of packages ask interesting, : Note * Materials English, science,biologyandgeography. Areas ofLearning Have students: Learning Objectives and fairer food choices. they Insodoing, becomemoreenlightenedconsumers! ecological healthier,makemore to way a as practice into principles these put to asked then 3N’s-Fdiscoverstudentsthe the far,(Non-packaged, Not principle Fair). and Natural Theyare plates, our to field the from foods various of cycle life the environment. examining Through

two similarproducts. so thateverygroupcancompare photocopies ofthisappendix, mentioned in Appendix 1.1 or Food” (Appendix2). summary (Appendix 1.2) andthe “Life Cycle of of theenlightenedconsumer(activist). cycle offood. food system works anditscomplexities. ment andsociety. food itemsonourhealth,theenviron and comparingtheimpactofarange Packaging fromtheproducts 1 copy perteamofthe “3N’s-F” chart Become aware ofthepurchasing power Learn inthelife aboutthemainstages Become aware ofhow theconventional Develop theircriticalsenseby examining o ae h atvt ee more even activity the make To generated morethan24tonnesofhouseholdwaste daily-the equivalent of 3millionbagsgarbage. 2,400 to 4,000 kmtogetfromthefieldsour plates. to4,000 2,400

Did you know? Non-Packaged ( Not Far: -

residues thefood isresponsiblefor contains, 85%to Natural: 90% ofourexposure tochemicals.

Fair: of CornFlakes roseby $2.44,while the Food eateninQuebectravels onaverage from price paidtofarmers for thecorn The food we eat, mainlyduetothepesticide From 1977 to1998, thepriceofabox Preparation Become familiar withthecontentof Become familiar withthe3N’s-F principle Prepare thematerialfor thestudents Bringintheproductsspecified content ofabox roseby only according tothenumberofstudents. appendices andprintcopiesofthem l’endroit ( et quelquesidéespourlaremettre à by readingthebook 2 for each oftheteams). (cut outthelife cyclein stages Appendix descriptions)*. Appendix 1.1 (orcutouttheproduct no orlittle packaging): $0.03. optional –seeReferences). Duration: 75min. Secondary School, Cycle 1 L’envers del’assiette In 2006, Quebecers In2006, 2 | The Life Cycle of Food Main Activity results withthegroup. Following thisanalysis activity, discussthe I ntegration

Was iteasyordifficulttorateeach food Were you surprisedby someofthe facts Ask thestudents tocompletethe3N’s-F Know?” outloudtotheclass. What do item? Why? How canwe assessfresh highest andlowest scores? Why? discovered? Which productsreceived the in each ofthelife stage cycle). (pay specialattention totheenergy used earth intheform ofgarbageorcompost is plantedtothetimeitreturned tothe life cycleofafood stages fromthetimeit students toputinorder andillustratethe beforehand) toeach groupandask the the environment. the productinquestiononourhealthand lower thescore,biggerimpactof impact ofeach product.Mentionthatthe chart (Appendix 1.2) to help determine the group. descriptions) from Appendix 1.1 toeach three students. Non-packaged, Notfar, Natural andFair. and society, usingthe3N’s-F criteria: impact on human health, the environment common food productsbasedontheir istoanalyzethem thattheirtask some the students thinkofthesestatistics? Read thefacts inthesection “Did You Next, handout Appendix 2(cutout Hand outtwosimilarproducts(orproduct Divide theclassintoteamsoftwoto tothestudents.Explain theactivity Tell

Were you aware oftheimpactthatyour What doyou thinkofthelife cycle of Where canwe findmore “responsible” Assessing food productsmightseem ce tobulkfoods, dishesthatcanbeused local, fair, lessprocessed;givingpreferen and labels;choosing foods thatare fresh, payingmers? (e.g., attention tologos help usbecomemoreenlightenedconsu simple. What strategiesorthingscan fairer for theproducerscanbequite your healthandtheenvironment and responsible choices thatarebetter for complicated. However, makingmore ge theway you consume?Ifso,how? food choices have? chan thisactivity Will environment? the leastimpactonyour healthandthe no label,description,orpackaging, etc.? tomatoes),whenthereis produce (e.g., Why? health, theenvironment andsolidarity? shortest? Which pathisthebestfor our at afarmers market. Which pathisthe Mexico toatomatofromQuebecsold taken by aconventional tomatofrom aware ofallthesestages? food? complex, (long, etc.)? Were you grocers, gardens,etc.). (farmers markets, CSA, independent for ourhealthandfairer for farmers? food items,i.e.,moreecological,better etc.). for several meals,doingmorecooking, Now, thinkaboutandcomparethepath

Which oftheproductsexamined has - - - 3 | The Life Cycle of Food a drawing thatillustratesandcomparesthe For theirhomework, askthestudents todo Enrichment during the harvest season). during theharvest consumer inform ofweekly organicbasket supported agriculture setting (directsaleto might befor avegetablefromcommunity html#id3. Next, describewhatthepath terre.org/equitable/guide/contenu/index. fair tradecoffee. See:http://www.equi conventional coffee tradewiththepathof pare thepathtakenby coffee fromthe thewholegroup,examineWith andcom fr.youtube.com/watch?v=hOQkBP5nioY. following videofor inspiration:http:// and fairer food choices. Show themthe healthier, moreenvironmentally-friendly ment thatwillhelpotherstudents make Ask thestudents tocreateanadvertise zed. For help,they canconsult Appendix 2. life cycles ofthetwofoods thatthey analy CBFT/Lepicerie200801091930_1.asx See: http://www.ext.vt.edu/resources/4h/ shtml#idMedia=1582937&urlMedia=/Medianet/2008/ Stages oftransforming Stages wheatintobread(inEnglish). virtualfarm/wheat/wheat_farm_to_you.html# http://www.radio-canada.ca/audio-video/pop. l’endroit, -

- Free Trade: Isit Working for Farmers? Comparing 2007 to1988Comparing 2007 siette etquelquesidéespourlaremettre à - - http://www.nfu.ca/briefs/ Waridel, Laure. 20071988%20vs%202007%20 Écosociété, (2005), 173Écosociété, (2005), pages. References the students, withtheirfamilies to: dly, fairer for farmers), encourage choices (healthier, moreenvironment-frien To promotemoreresponsiblefood Take Action!

and salt. more for theirmoney, butwithlesssugar packaging aspossible,inordertoget paniers-Bios/index.php. See: http://www.equiterre.org/agriculture/ the farmsseason. duringtheharvest buying righton fromproducestands markets), orderingorganicbaskets, or going tofarmers markets (public petition, etc.). origin oftheproductsbeshown (letter, at thesupermarket anddemandthatthe Read thelabelsonfoods they buy Buy food withaslittle processingand Purchase food directlyfromfarmers by FINAL%20bri.pdf L’envers del’as - - 4 | The Life Cycle of Food Appendix 1.1FoodstoAnalyze beta-carotene, bananapurée. beta-carotene, additives, natural flavour and Ingredients: citricandascorbicacid “tropical fruit infruit juice” What theProduct Claims: Container: Tropical Fruit Salad Tradition Additional Information: sorbate potassium Ingredients: taste”, Product ofQuebec”. fresh pressed”, “original claims: What theproduct Container: Juice Plastic1,plasticwith

size 4x107 ml no number, paper, Size 1.89 L Plastic 2+paper “Apple juice, isaQuebeccompany. ,

de de fruits Salade pomme Jus

Additional Information: . , citricacid,natural flavours, Ingredients: added”. ”, “no colouringorartificialflavour What theproduct claims: Container: Fruit Drink organic andfair trade What theProduct Claims: FreshÉquicosta Bananas registered trademark. (Five Alive) Size: 10 x220ml Tetra Pak (cardboard-like) and plasticwithnonumber is a water, 45%fruit juice, Coca-Cola Inc.

Deli-cinq “real fruit Certified

aux fruits Boisson 5 | The Life Cycle of Food cooperative intheDominican Republic). (produced by Concado, asmallfarm hazelnuts, powdered vanilla, 38%cocoa sucanat non-refinedcanesugar, ground sugar, cocoa butter, cocoaliquor, Syramena raw cane powdered wholemilk, Organic Ingredients: for farmers”, “100% organic”. What theProduct Claims: “fair treatment Container: Milk Chocolate Prepared Organic Lasagna *= organic parsley*, spices. white winevinegar*,butter*, garlic*, fine herbs*, canola oil*, sea salt, sugar*, wheat flour*, onions*, beef*, milk*, tomato paste*,leanground calcium chloride, citricacid), (tomatoes*, tomatojuice*,seasalt, salt, microbialenzymes]),tomatoes*, [milk*, whey*, bacterialculture, sea cheeses* (ricotta, cheddar, mozzarella Ingredients: “Product ofCanada” What theProduct Claims: Container: Appendix 1.1FoodstoAnalyze Size 340g(1portion) Plastic5,plasticwithnonumber, cardboard paper, plasticwithnonumber cookedwater, pasta*,

congele biologique

S

ouper

Chocola t tartrazine). gum, artificial flavour, colouring(containing andguar xanthan gum soy lecithin, cornstarch, pyrophosphate, acidic sodium sorbate, potassium sodium bicarbonate,polysorbate 60, monostearate, modified cellulose,sorbitan soy protein,monoanddiglycerides, starches, salt,glycerine, bakingpowder, glucose, cocoa,milkingredients,modified palm kernel oil,mixture ofeggs,water, modified palm kernel oil), hydrogenated palmoiland vegetable oil(containing Ingredients: artificial flavours”, “MadeinCanada”. What theProduct Claims: number, individuallywrapped. 283g, Container: Commercial Cookies margarine (soy), spice,modifiedcornstarch, olive oil,salt,maltodextrin, vegetableoil acid), water, onions,sugar, garlic,celery, salt,calciumchloride,(containing citric enriched wheatflour),tomatoes Ingredients: “Product oftheU.S.A.”, “authentic recipe”. What theProduct Claims: Container: Prepared Frozen Pasta parsley flakes, xanthangum. size: 241g waxed cardboard (1 portion) cardboardbox, plasticwithno cooked pasta (containing cooked(containing pasta sugar, enriched wheatflour, Collation Biscuits

congele “natural and Plat s 6 | The Life Cycle of Food Appendix 1.23N’s-FChart: Table 1: Energy Required for theProduction ofPackaging (inKcal) Aluminum can(12 oz.) Bottle ofCoca-Cola,non-recyclable (16 oz.) Glass jar(16 oz.) Styrofoam plate(recycling logono.6) Small wooden fruit (for container , etc.) NON-PACKAGED TOTAL (consult the What toRecycle appendix)? Is thepackaging reusableorrecyclable energy toproduce(see Table 1)? Does thepackaging requirealotof Does theproduct: NON-PACKAGED Polypropylene bottle (250ml) Bottle ofCoca-Cola, recyclable (16 oz.) Plastic milkbottle (1.9 litres) “TV dinner”aluminumcontainer

No (0) Yes, butitrequiresalotofenergy(1) Yes, easily(2) Yes, itiseven reusable?(3) Impossible todetermine(0.5) kilocalories(0) More than1,000 kilocalories(1) Less than1,000 Have excessive packaging (0) Have alittle packaging? (2) Have nopackaging? (5) Not Far,NaturalandFair (Ex. Apple Juice) Product 1 Non-Packaged, 2 752 2 451 1 496 1 643 1 471 1 023 2 159 215 69 (Ex. Citrus Fuit Juice) Product 2 7 | The Life Cycle of Food Appendix 1.23N’s-FChart: Table 2: Distance Travelled by Food from Fieldto Consumer Chili California Mexico Elsewhere inCanada China Belgium Quebec New Zealand Thailand Australia Washington, D.C. Origin NOT FAR TOTAL travel 2)? (seetable How many kilometresdidthefood item NOT FAR

Less km(3) than500 kmto999(1) 500 km(0) Over 1,000 Distance Travelled (km) Not Far,NaturalandFair Product 1 12 392 10 937 13 164 13 163 10 108 3 053 3 665 4 692 8 582 695 350 Non-Packaged, Product 2 8 | The Life Cycle of Food Appendix 1.23N’s-FChart: Table 3: Energy Required to Process Certain Foods (inKcal/kg) Canned fruits andvegetables Soft drink(perlitre) Frozen fruits andvegetables Cane sugar Cereal (breakfast) Chocolate coffeeInstant NATURAL TOTAL much energy(see Table 3)? Did processingofthefood itemrequire much energy(see Table 3)? Did processingofthefood itemrequire much energy(see Table 3)? Did processingofthefood itemrequire NATURAL

No, less than 1,000 kilocalories No, lessthan1,000 Yes, kilocalories morethan1,000 kilocalories No, lessthan1,000 Yes, kilocalories morethan1,000 kilocalories No, lessthan1,000 Yes, kilocalories morethan1,000 Not Far,NaturalandFair 18,591 18,948 15,675 3,370 1,425 1,815 575 Product 1 Non-Packaged, Product 2 9 | The Life Cycle of Food Appendix 1.23N’s-FChart: in Quebec. grown not are mangoes though even logo this with juice find to possible is it Forexample, 50% or more of the production costs (labor, transformation, packaging, etc.) were spent in Quebec. * Beware : Tableau 4: Logos to LookOutFor logo totheright.* A food item isproducedinQuebecifitdisplays the displays this Transfair Canadalogo. A food itemiscertified fair tradeinCanadaifit FAIR TOTAL price (see Table 4)? Did theproducer(farmer, etc.)receive afair ended upinthehandsofconsumer? time thefood wastothetimeit harvested How many intermediarieswere therefromthe FAIR displays onethesesixlogos. A food item iscertifiedorganicinQuebecifit

gone throughmany intermediaries(0) case for processedfood) (1) went throughmany intermediaries (often the producer orwithfew intermediaries(4) the producer(4) in Quebecanditwas purchased directlyfrom has undergonelittle itwas processing, grown processed (1) Probably not.It’s animported productthathas Possibly not.It’s alocalproduct,butonethat Yes, it’s acertified fair tradeproduct(3) Yes, it’s alocalproductsolddirectlyby the Probably lessthanfour, becausethefood item Likely many becausethefood ishighly This logo may also appear on products that do not contain locally-produced ingredients if Not Far,NaturalandFair Product 1 Non-Packaged, Product 2 10 | The Life Cycle of Food Appendix 1.23N’s-FChart: 3N’s-F GRAND TOTAL producers. for theenvironment, yourwith healthandsolidarity The higherthescore,better thefood itemis footprint ofyour food items: Now calculate thetotal ecological 3N’s-F = Footprint + FAIR + NATURAL + NOT FAR NON-PACKAGED score Not Far,NaturalandFair

Product 1 Non-Packaged, Product 2 11 | The Life Cycle of Food Appendix2 LifeCycleofFood– Simplified Life Cycle ofa Food of Food Distribution andProcessing Production Post-Consumption Consumption Food Item Distribution andProcessing of Production Main Stages Post-Consumption Consumption Example: FoodPlant

pesticides, andgas) Reuse, garbage, recycling orcomposting Consumption Restaurant Retailer Distribution Packaging Processing Transportation Crop productionby farmer Production ofcropproductioninput(seeds,fertilizers, Specific Steps Transportation tohomeofconsumeror Purchase by consumerfromretailer Transporting toretailer Transporting todistributor Packaging Processing Transporting toprocessingplant harvest Transporting towarehouse harvest Re-using packaging, orputting itingarbageor Disposaloffood scrapesinthegarbagepailor Preparation andconsumptionoffood to restaurant care andharvesting and gas recycling bin composter (whereapplicable) Planting andgrowing food plant:seeds,sprouts, Purchase ofproductioninput:seeds,fertilizer, pesticides