Mid Sweden University

The composition of diets plays a critical role in the environmental impact of the food system. Ongoing dietary transitions towards higher intake of meat, saturated fats, and refined sugars exacerbate climate impacts and contribute to rising rates of non-communicable diseases. After cereals, sugar crops are the category of primary crops produced in highest volumes globally, and sugar is consumed in many different forms, one wide-spread commodity being confectionery products. Europe accounts for 35–45% of global confectionery consumption, with Sweden among the top consumers at 16 kg per capita per year. Despite its scale and the strong associations between excess caloric intake, health issues, and negative climate impact, the confectionery industry remains an under-researched subject. This article quantifies land use and CO₂-equivalent emissions associated with sugar used in European and Swedish confectionery consumption: 252,485 hectares, and 7,758 hectares; 2,97 million and 64,787 metric tonnes of CO₂-equivalents respectively. The findings shed light on the often-overlooked burden of “empty calories” and discuss how reallocation of land from sugar crops could contribute to improved human and environmental health.

Few studies have reported the isolation of microorganisms from mining sites in Nicaragua. The objective of this study is to isolate autochthonous fungi from mining sediments of Santo Domingo, Chontales in the central region of Nicaragua and assess them for the tolerance to chromium (Cr) and lead (Pb). For the isolation of fungi, serial dilution and plate seeding on solid cultivation of Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) was used. The microorganisms were identified by macroscopic observation and microscopy based on the colony colour, shape, hyphae, conidia and spore arrangement. Molecular identification was performed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis, extracting DNA for amplification of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions for ITS1-STS4 for fungi. The PCR product was sequenced and compared with other sequences int the GenBank (NCBI). The fungal genomes Fusarium oxysporum, Pichia kudriavzevii, Trichoderma harzianum and Aspergillus awamori were identified. The tolerance index (TI) was determined from different concentrations of Cr and Pb, demonstrating that Fusarium oxysporum, Trichoderma harzianum and Aspergillus awamori are tolerant in the range of 1 to 5 mg L-1 for Cr and 52 to 207 mg. L-1 for Pb, according to the analysis of variance with the Duncan test. Since the tested species are autochthonous to the contaminated environment in Santo Domingo, they are interesting as a point of departure for soil remediation endeavours in the area.

Background

Wastewater discharges from the old pulp and paper industry led to the accumulation of contaminated wood pulping fbers and debris—referred to as fberbanks (FB)—in the Baltic Sea and freshwater bodies across Sweden and other pulp-producing countries. These anthropogenic sediments are polluted with toxic metal(oid)s and persistent organic pollutants, and their decomposition releases greenhouse gases. Phytoremediation ofers a nature-based solution for the ex-situ treatment of these fbrous sediments, but they present unique challenges due to the abundant and unstable organic matter and aged pollution. This study aims to identify potential plant candidates and to address the limitations of fberbanks as a plants growing media for phytoremediation.In a greenhouse experiment, we assessed the performance of fve plant species (Brassica juncea, Brassica napus, Helianthus annuus, Hordeum vulgare, and Poa annua) grown in substrates formulated with fberbank. The evaluation included plant growth parameters, bioconcentration and uptake efciency of metal(oid)s (V, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, and Pb), and the degradation of polycyclic and linear hydrocarbons.

Results

Despite initial concerns, fberbanks displayed favorable physical characteristics and a degree of fertility conducive to plant growth. Even though all tested species seeds could cope with fberbanks acute toxicity, H. vulgare and P. annua showed better tolerance to the fberbanks substrates and superior aerial biomass development, which promoted a highest toxic metal(oid)s uptake efciency, regardless of lower bioconcentration factors for most of the target elements. Zn (17.16–23.25 mg/kg of FB), Cu (4.18–6.48 mg/kg of FB) and Cr (1.05–1.36 mg/kg of FB) were most efectively taken up by these plants. The uptake of Co (0.04–0.18 mg/kg of FB) and Ni (0.05–0.17 mg/kg of FB) was lower. As (0.01–0.02 mg/kg of FB), Cd (0.02–0.06 mg/kg of FB), Pb (0.02–0.04 mg/kg of FB) and V (0.02–0.03 mg/kg of FB) phytoextraction was not signifcant. None of the species exhibited a signifcant removal of targeted organic pollutants.

Conclusions

Phytoremediation, either on its own or in combination with other strategies, shows promise for the remediation of fberbanks. However, further research is needed to understand how the organic matrix and long-term underwater aging of fberbanks afect pollutants bioavailability.

Private gardens constitute a large part of many cities, making them a potential contributor to food security in urban areas. The aim of this study is to increase knowledge about the potential of private gardens to cover the nutritional needs of city dwellers. The case study sets out to investigate how much of the recommended intake of vegetables (as described in the reference diet proposed by the EAT–Lancet Commission) can be covered by private urban gardens in the Swedish cities of Östersund, Härnösand, Södertälje, and Lund. Statistical data on yields of six selected vegetables together with geographic information system (GIS) data were used. The estimated food production was subsequently compared to the nutritional needs of the urban population of the cities. This study indicates that the potential to cover the nutritional needs in the cities is considerable. The capacity varied depending on the size of the used cultivable area and the types of vegetables grown. If 20% of the available cultivable area was used for growing vegetables, between 12% and 23% of the recommended intake of vegetables could be covered by private gardens in the four investigated cities. If 85% of the same area was used, more than 90% of the recommended intake of vegetables could be covered in two of the investigated cities. The study indicates that the potential in urban areas in Sweden to meet the nutritional needs with vegetables grown in private gardens is considerable.

Since 2003, Kamikatsu in Japan has established a sustainable zero-waste practice that has achieved a recycling rate exceeding 80%. By exploring how the community has shaped itself around the zero-waste concept, this paper aims to enhance our understanding of zero waste in practice from a universal design perspective. Interviews and photo documentation were used to gather data. The zero-waste concept was not driven by technical solutions. Instead, the results highlight what initiatives contributed to the design of the zero-waste concept. Key themes presented include fostering a lifestyle shift, changing norms, creating co-located experiences, establishing an incentive system, and developing self-awareness routines. The paper also addresses the challenges and opportunities from a universal design perspective when applying zero waste, emphasizing the importance of designing for diverse needs while promoting long-term environmental sustainability. This research contributes to the understanding of zero waste practices, combining the ecological dimension with the social dimension of sustainable development.

Eating habits are among the strongest drivers of negative environmental impact. Public procurement has been suggested as an efficient lever to catalyze changes within the food system. This study examines alternative purchase processes that may decrease the carbon footprint of publicly procured food through a case study of a municipality in the Northern part of Sweden. The GHG emissions associated with the current food service in the case study were 2.2 kg CO2e per kg food and must be reduced by 40.9% by 2030 to comply with the Paris Agreement; 76% of the emissions derive from food of animal origin (44% from unprocessed red meat). Three alternative diet scenarios, “zero red meat,” “−50% red meat,” and “flexitarian free from red meat,” were explored. Only 6% of the total purchased food kilograms were altered, yet the cutback of meat caused GHG emissions reductions turned out to be as high as 44%. The Swedish Law on Public Procurement, deficient infrastructure, unsustainable food culture, and local politicians' reluctance to change were mentioned as the main obstacles to materializing necessary changes in the food procurement system. The respondents also pointed out essential policy changes at the national and municipal levels.

One third of the world´s land surface (or half of all cultivable land) is currently used for cultivation of crops or raising of livestock. The global population is expected to increase to about 10 billion in 2050 which entails a need for increased food production while the land that can be sustainably used for food production remains constant. The world´s agroecosystems are not only limited in terms of area but are also losing their capacity to produce safe and reliable yields due to loss of topsoil, soil pollution, and extreme weather events due to climate change. This study assesses the potential to establish food production systems on marginal and degraded land with the purpose of avoiding new land clearings resulting from agricultural sprawl. A scoping review of the risks and opportunities associated with different approaches to exploit marginal land for food production was conducted and some illustrative examples were highlighted. The study suggests that marginal land, degraded by desertification, urban development and even soil pollution can contribute substantially to food security and thus decrease the need for further expansion of the agricultural frontier. Prominent challenges associated with such practises include the risk that pollutants enter the food chain. Several strategies to manage or avoid such risks were identified. Furthermore, well-designed restoration projects of degraded lands can provide ecosystem services such as soil remediation, carbon sequestration, and increased biodiversity, at the same time as food is safely produced. In order to sustainably produce more food on a limited land area with decreasing quality, innovative approaches such as the inclusion of marginal lands of little industrial or agricultural value are needed. Private gardens also occupy a large part of many cities making them a significant contributor to the food security in urban areas. This study conclude that the use of marginal and degraded land is a promising option to address the need to feed a growing population on limited land resources without interfering with areas worthy of protection due to ecological or cultural values.

Alternative food production technologies are being developed to meet the global increase in population and demand for a more sustainable food supply. Aquaponics, a combined method of vegetable and fish production, is an emerging technology that is widely regarded as sustainable. Yet, there has been limited research on its environmental performance, especially at a commercial scale. In this study, life cycle analysis (LCA) was used to assess the environmental impacts of food produced by an urban commercial aquaponic system located next to a retail store in a cold-weather region (Östersund, Sweden). The functional unit (FU) used is 1 kg of fresh produce, which includes cucumber (Cucumis sativus), tomatoes (Solanum Lycopersicum), and Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). The system boundary is set from cradle to farm or retailer's gate due to the proximity of the aquaponic system to the retail store. Results were reported employing eight environmental impact categories, including global warming potential (GWP), marine eutrophication (MEU), and cumulative energy demand (CED). According to contribution analysis, the main hotspots of the system are electricity, CO2 enrichment, and heating. Potential areas to mitigate the impact of these parameters were highlighted in this study, including the establishment of symbiotic links to utilize urban waste and by-products. The impact per vegetable or fish produced was partitioned using energy and economic allocation and compared to other common cultivation methods. The yearly harvest from the aquaponic system was also compared to importing these food items from other European countries which showed lower annual greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for the aquaponic system.