Jona Ruser

Global Studies Seminar

Dr. O’Brien
4/29/21

Third Product:
Tofu Vs. Chicken

For my third product I decided to make a life cycle between a vegetarian dish and a meat
based dish. For each food item on the dish, I will take a deep dive on how they affect the
environment around us. This includes taking account of CO2 emissions, water use,
transportation, and the production of the product. Health and nutrition will also be a key factor in
my comparison. First, each food item will need to be split up into separate groups.

Rice: Rice is a common source of carbohydrates for people all across the world. The rice I
used for my meal is called Organic Texmati White Rice from RiceSelect. RiceSelect is owned by
RiceTec, who has their headquarters in Houston, Texas. The U.S. is responsible for producing
20 billion pounds of rice a year. The states that produce the most rice are Arkansas, California,
Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Texas. RiceSelect does not directly say where they get
their rice from, but they are mostly likely to farm their rice in the states listed before. For all GHG
emitted by humans, 2.5% of those emissions comes from the production of rice. This is
equivalent to the CO2 emissions caused by plane travel. Rice also accounts for 12% of global
methane emissions. Rice is usually farmed in massive puddles of water. The water traps
methane in the soil and does not allow for it to leave into the atmosphere. This build up is finally
released when the rice is ready for harvest. With the farming and production processes
combined, one kilogram of milled rice requires 660 gallons of water to produce. Comparing
wheat to rice, wheat produces less CO2 emissions and uses less water. Overall, rice is not the
best grain for the environment, but it is not the worst type of carbohydrate for your health and
the environment.
Onion: Onions are delicious and a common food item that people use to spice up their meals.
The onions I used to cook with are from a company called Fresh from the Start. They are a fruit
and vegetable company. While they are located in the U.S., their onions are packaged in
Canada. This means the onions are produced in the U.S., and then they are shipped up to
Canada to be packaged. Then the onions are sent to my local Stop and Shop. The company
does not disclose the reason why they do this, but it increases the size of the onions carbon
footprint. On average, to produce one kilogram of onions is the equivalent of driving 1.25 miles.
Compared to other vegetables, onions have a low carbon footprint. The amount of water it takes
to produce onions is also on the lower side.

Broccoli: Broccoli can be seen on many different types of dishes. Although most vegetables
only use the equivalent of 3.75 miles of gas for each kilogram to produce, this broccoli came
from Mexico. The state of Guanajuato in Mexico is the biggest provider of broccoli in mexico.
Assuming the broccoli came from Guanajuato, it had to travel around 2,578 miles to get to
Middletown, Connecticut. This number is gigantic compared to what it takes to produce one kg
of onions. Overall the transportation of this crown of broccoli might have a bigger effect on the
environment than the production itself.

Tofu: Tofu is a great protein substitute for vegetarians and vegans. Tofu is made from dried up
soybeans that are soaked in water, crushed, and then boiled. Surprisingly, soybeans themselves
have a bigger carbon footprint than tofu. This is because the process of making tofu is slightly
better than letting soybeans grow to their full potential. One kilogram of soybeans is the
equivalent of 5 miles in a car, while tofu is 4.5 miles in a car. Tofu requires 440 gallons of water
to be produced, which is more water than farming pure soybeans. These numbers are still minor
compared to the protein on the meat based dish.

Chicken: The lemon pepper chicken in the photo on the right, is organic from Nature Promise.
The only information Nature's Promise gives on where their chickens are farmed is that it is in
the U.S.. Their chickens are advised to have a vegetarian diet, be family farmed, and minimally
processed. These factors only slightly decrease the chickens overall carbon footprint. The
production of one kilogram of chicken is the same as driving 16 miles by car. It also requires
1,136 gallons of water.

Comparing the chicken and the tofu, it is clear that tofu is better for the environment. But
why aren't more people eating protein substitutes like tofu? The majority of the population is not
ready to give up meat in their diet, and it is understandable. Meat is delicious. Not only does the
chicken look more appetizing on the dish, but it also has an nutrisonal appeal. Chicken is a
great source of protein and healthier than many other meat options. Many are dependent on
meat, and the human race is not ready to end the farming of livestock, but mother nature can
not hold on for much longer. In the upcoming years world leaders will be pressed with many
issues relating to climate change, and meat based diets will be one of them.
 Works Cited

#creator, and #identity. “Organic Texmati White Rice: Basmati Rice.” RiceSelect®, 29 Mar. 2021,

riceselect.com/product/riceselect-organic-texmati-white-rice.

“2021 Carbon Footprint of Foods and Ingredients List.” HEALabel,

healabel.com/carbon-footprint-of-foods.

Facility, Global Environment. “We Can Grow More Climate-Friendly Rice.” Climate Home News,

Climate Home, 7 Dec. 2019,

www.climatechangenews.com/2019/12/07/can-grow-climate-friendly-rice/.

“Fresh Produce - Freshness Starts Here.” Fresh from the Start, 15 May 2018,

freshfromthestart.com/#products.

Leahy, Stephen. Your Water Footprint: The Shocking Facts About How Much Water We
Use to Make Everyday Products. Firefly Books, 2015.

Travis, Glenn, et al. “Guanajuato, Mexico SP16.” Guanajuato Mexico SP16, 17 Feb. 2016,

sites.psu.edu/guanajuatosp16/2016/02/17/broccoli-production-in-guanajuato-mexico/#:~:t

ext=Guanajuato is an important agricultural state in Mexico.,exporter of broccoli in

Mexico.

“Where Rice Grows.” Default,

www.usarice.com/thinkrice/discover-us-rice/where-rice-grows#:~:text=Where Rice Grows

in the,of the rice consumed domestically.