Day: April 27, 2020

Carbon dioxide shortage could threaten beer, soda and seltzers

Read the full story in Food Dive.

A drop in carbon dioxide supplies is creating concerns among beer, soda and seltzer water companies who use the gas to create fizz in their products, according to Reuters.  

Ethanol producers are a major contributor of the gas to food and beverage companies. They collect the gas as a byproduct when making the renewable fuel. But the market for ethanol has been cut as consumers drive less, forcing many U.S. ethanol plants that sell carbon dioxide to idle or cut production, the wire service noted. Ethanol is blended into most of the country’s gasoline supply.

Bob Pease, chief executive officer of the Brewers Association, told Reuters carbon dioxide suppliers have increased prices by about 25% due to reduced supply. “The problem is accelerating. Every day we’re hearing from more of our members about this,” said Pease, who expects some brewers to start cutting production in two to three weeks.

Webinar: Beyond Conservation: How Water Policy, Footprinting, and Handprinting Catalyze Water Stewardship

Apr 29, 2020, noon CDT
Register here.

“Conservation!” is a frequent mantra when thinking about water and sustainability. However, water sustainability strategies and actions can go much further than that, and are explored in SFTA’s April Knowledge Network session: “Beyond Conservation: Strategies and Tools to Catalyze Water Stewardship.”

Beyond Conservation features speakers from Bonneville Environmental Foundation, Biohabitats, and SFTA Member General Mills. Together, these experts will explain the concept of water stewardship, and how measurement and policy can expand companies’ strategic approach to water sustainability. Special attention will be paid to the role that water footprinting, water handprinting, auditing techniques, and project investment (including Water Restoration Certificates) can play in being a dynamic water steward. General Mills will bring these concepts to life as they discuss how their strategic water policy has helped catalyze the company’s water stewardship efforts.

During this webinar, SFTA members will also learn about an exclusive water stewardship Partnership Project for SFTA members! Case studies and promotional materials will be made to highlight the thought leadership shown by these companies.

Please note if you’re unable to attend the live presentation, a recording will be provided to registrants after the session.

Climate change’s toll on freshwater fish: A new database for science

Read the full story from the University at Buffalo.

The Fish and Climate Change Database — or FiCli (pronounced ”fick-lee”) — is a searchable directory of peer-reviewed journal publications that describe projected or documented effects of climate change on inland fishes. Researchers, fisheries managers, conservationists, journalists and others can use FiCli to find scientific articles…

According to the paper in Scientific Data, FiCli “currently includes information for 53 freshwater fish families, 232 studies from over 47 countries, and 851 projected and 377 documented responses of individual species or assemblages to climate change.”

Environmental destruction is making the next coronavirus more likely

Sprawling cities, habitat loss, and climate change are a dangerous mix.

Wildlife-Friendly Gardens Add More Enjoyment and Interest

Read the full story from Illinois Extension.

Do you enjoy watching bees buzzing around your flowers, butterflies resting in the sun, or a fat toad sitting in a shady spot? Making your garden wildlife-friendly starts with knowing what will attract birds, insects, and animals to your yard. Wildlife needs water, a food source, shelter, and space. Small changes in your garden habitat can make a big difference to the wildlife you wish to attract.

As Snowmelt Declines, Farmers in Western U.S. Could Be Among the Hardest Hit

Read the full story at e360.

As global temperatures continue to rise, farmers in the western United States who rely on snowmelt to water their crops could be one of the most severely affected agricultural communities in the world, according to a new study in the journal Nature Climate Change. Two of the most vulnerable regions to climate change will be the San Joaquin and Colorado river basins, both major producers of crops and livestock.

How COVID-19 brought plastics back from the dead

Read the full story in Food Dive.

For years, food companies were moving away from disposable packaging to help the environment. Tom Newmaster of FORCEpkg says the pandemic is reminding everyone why they were used in the first place.

Water replaces toxins: Green production of plastics

Read the full story from the Vienna University of Technology.

A new way to synthesize polymers, called hydrothermal synthesis, can be used to produce important high-performance materials in a way which is much better for the environment. Dangerous toxins which usually have to be used to produce theses polymers can be substituted by water.

Digesting Dumped Milk, RNG For Sea-Tac

Read the full story in Biocycle.

The last week has been chock full of anaerobic digestion and biogas news. This roundup includes tips for adding COVID-caused unsold milk to digesters and the latest on a major airport becoming a major RNG offtaker.

Greenhouse looks to sewage farms for future of sustainable food production

Read the full story in Food Navigator.

Heat from sewage systems holds the key to growing more locally-grown produce and protecting food systems from the structural weaknesses exposed by coronavirus, it has been claimed.