David Pimentel "Reducing Energy Inputs in the US Food System" - Interview

A few days after the presentation Dr. Pimentel agreed to be interviewed for the VSSE podcast by Louisa Dell'Amico an Environmental Activist. -------------- David Pimentel and his colleagues at Cornell University in New York set out a number of strategies which could potentially cut fossil energy fuel use in the food system by as much as 50 percent. The first, and very astute suggestion they put forward is that individuals eat less, especially considering that the average American consumes an estimated 3,747 calories a day, a staggering 1200-1500 calories over recommendations. Traditional American diets are high in animal products, and junk and processed foods in particular, which by their nature use more energy than that used to produce staple foods such as potatoes, rice, fruits and vegetables. By just reducing junk food intake and converting to diets lower in meat, the average American could have a massive impact on fuel consumption as well as improving his or her health. For information directly about the report "Reducing Energy Inputs in the US Food System" by David Pimentel, Sean Williamson, Courtney E. Alexander, Omar Gonzalez-Pagan, Caitlin Kontak and Steven E. Mulkey (http://www.springerlink. com/content/k487435204442t48/) and (http://www.sciencedaily. com/releases/2008/07/080723094838.htm).