Foodshed Chloropleth Visualization

Foodshed Chloropleth Visualization: Compelling Comparisions Of The State Of The Land As A Planning Tool

By Lars Niki

TASK: CREATE A LAYERED CHLOROPLETH VISUALIZATION REPRESENTING LAND USE/LAND COVER FOR THE CONTINENTAL US AND NYC REGIONAL FOODSHED

CONDITION: A CROSS PLATFORM BASED STATIC, MULTI-LAYERED, STATISTICAL REPRESENTATION BY SUBJECT WITH COMPARISON CONTROLS

STANDARDS: DECISION-MAKING FOODSHED TOOL FOR INFORMED SOURCING, PLANNING AND PRODUCT FULFILLMENT

Definitions:

Foodshed-The flow of food from the area where it is grown to the place where it is consumed

Food Miles-The distance food travels from the time of its production until it reaches the consumer

Chloropleth-("area/region" + "multiply") a thematic map in which areas are shaded or patterned in proportion to the measurement of the statistical variable being displayed-THREE (3) TYPES:

1. Sequential Schemes-data progression from high to low-dark color high data vs light color/low data
2. Diverging Schemes-midrange values/light color-high and low values/dark colors in contrasting hues
3. Qualitative Schemes-hues represent differences between classes-not magnitude

Note: Potential ecological fallacy and modifiable areal unit problem errors at county level and below

Land cover/use-Land cover is the vegetation or other kind of material that covers the land surface. Land use is the purpose of human activity on the land

The Backstory

Preliminary Concerns Addressed Through Researching The Backstory

• Deep understanding of the NYC foodshed
• Identify NYC foodshed products originating from local sources
• Enable a NYC “Locally Certified” foodshed
• Historic/demographic/summary data describing the surrounding environment of the product origination point
• Knowledge of the “food miles” required to reach the NYC consumer
• Heightened awareness of the environmental issues surrounding the production and process of the food industry
• Vigilant monitoring of the factors involved in qualitative food issues such as freshness, taste, quality and value
  
  

Preliminary Conclusions From The Initial Investigation

Food Travels a Significant Distance To Get To The Consumer

Source: “Food, Fuel & Freeways,” Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture

Food Transport Has Significant and Growing Impacts

• A single indicator based on total food miles is an inadequate indicator of sustainability
• Local food distribution systems can be inefficient
• Small lots of food, small trucks, minimal consolidation, many trips
• The two ends of the production system have a large impact on efficiency:

• Food transport accounts for a large percentage (25% in UK) of all vehicle miles traveled
• Transport of food by air has the highest CO2 emissions per ton and is the fastest growing mode.
• The direct environmental, social and economic costs of food transport are large and are dominated by congestion

Source: The Validity of Food Miles as an Indicator of Sustainable Development, DEFRA

Food Industry Activities Have a Significant Impact On The Environment

Controversy Surrounding Transparency Labeling and Tracking of Food Products

Food Statistics

• 40% of the fruit purchased in the US is produced overseas
• Most people in US live within 60 miles of an apple orchard but most apples sold at grocery stores travel 1726 miles
• 40% of all food grown in US is not consumed and goes to waste
• Food chain waste-”Loss and damage of perishable goods during storage and transportation is a substantial global issue, with some industry sources estimating that losses up to 33 percent on perishable freight are common”
• Temperature within a shipping container can vary up to 35 percent from pallet to pallet, creating a potentially unacceptable environment for perishable goods.
• California produces 90% of fresh vegetables consumed in the US
• 1.5 percent of the fresh produce sales in the United States are from farmers marketing directly to the consumer in enterprises such as farmers markets, roadside stands and U-pick operations
• 1/3 of all US farms are located within metropolitan areas-18% of total US farmland
• Organically reared cows eating fresh grass produced milk 50% higher in Vitamin E, 75% higher beta carotene-Vitamin A, 2-3 times higher in antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthine and higher levels of omega 3 essential fatty acids than non-organic milk
  
  

The Project

Major List of Chloropleth Layers

• Base maps-DEM, county, federal borders/regions
• Farmland use-agriculture, cropland, livestock
• Urban development-rates, acreage
• Aquaculture-origin, irrigation use
• Agriculture outflows/disbursement/runoff-nitrogen, phosphorus, insecticide, pesticide, fertilizer
• Heavy industry outflows-chemical/dioxin dischargers, nuclear facilities, superfund sites, ethanol facilities
• Soil/erosion-water, wind, irrigation, tillage
• National/regional transport of food product scheme
• Census statistics-geo-coding, agriculture expenses, subsidies
  
  

Statistical Methodology

• The National Resources Inventory (NRI) is a scientifically-designed, longitudinal panel survey of the Nation’s soil, water, and related resources designed to assess conditions and trends every five years
• Purpose-Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP)-scientifically credible estimates of the environmental benefits obtained from USDA conservation programs
• NRI data were collected at more than 800,000 sample sites nationwide
• Point sample data (for 1982, 1987, 1992, and 1997)
• Coverages are in ALBERS EQUAL AREA projection using a NAD27 datum, a CLARKE1866 spheroid and map units in meters
  
  

Data Sources

• USDA National Resource Inventory (NRI)
• USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS)
• Census of Agriculture
• US Geological Survey GIS Gateway
• US Census Bureau TIGER Data
• EPA Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) Explorer
• ESRI ARC/GIS ARCMAP software/database
• (NOFA) Northeast Organic Farming Association
  
  

Foodshed Chloropleth Visualization Compelling Scenarios

• US Heavy Industry Locations: Orange/Ethanol Facilities, Red/Nuclear Facilities, Blue/Chemical Dischargers, Pink/Dioxin Dischargers
  
  

• Prime Farmland Used As Cropland & US Heavy Industry
  
  

• Potential Priority Watersheds For Protection Of Water Quality From Contamination By Manure Nutrients and Estimated Manure Phosphorus Production from Confined Livestock 1992
  
  

• Farm Acres Prime Farmland and Excessive Erosion on Cropland
  
  

• Percent of Cultivated Cropland in Corn 1997 and Acres of Tillage
  
  

• Percent of Cultivated Cropland in Soybean 1997 and Percent Area Where Leaching Concentrations Exceed Water Quality Thresholds for Humans Red>15%
  
  

• Percentage of Farms Receiving Government Payments 1997 and Expenses for Fertilizer, Lime and Soil Conditioners 2002 1 dot/$1 million
  
  

• Freshwater Consumption as a Percentage of Local Average Annual Precipitation Blue>150% and Watersheds with a High Potential for Pesticide and Nitrogen Leaching
  
  

• Potential Concentration of the Herbicide Cyanazine Runoff Exceeding EPA Health Advisory Thresholds and Acres of Cropland 1 Dot = 25k Acres
  
  

• Percentage of Cultivated Cropland in Corn >=50% and Potential Pesticide Dissolved in Runoff Loss From Farm Fields
  
  

New York Foodshed Network Analysis-National and Regional

Whole Foods National Distribution Network

• Whole Foods Distribution Centers-Orange
• UNFI Distribution Centers-Blue
• ALBERTS Produce Distribution Centers-Green
• Whole Foods Seafood/Allegro Coffee Processing Facilities-Purple
• Whole Foods Baking Facilities-Red
  
  

• Greenmarket Producer Locations and NYC 100 Mile Radius Including Current GreenMarket Regional Linear Distribution Network-Includes Return To Origin/Multiple Returns
  
  

• Park Slope COOP Producer Locations and NYC 100 Mile Radius Including Proposed Park Slope Coop Regional Hub/Spoke Distribution Network-One Direction
  
  

• NY NOFA Sites and Superfund Sites with NYC 100 Mile Radius
  
  

• NY NOFA Sites and Land Use With NYC 100 Mile Radius
  
  

The Conclusions

Foodshed Chloropleth Visualization/usage/end users

• Informed decision of product sourcing
• Origin of product/transparent
• Future planning/development
• Environmental impact
• Product label transparency
• Open source, cross platform tool for public distribution and use
  
  

Transparency May Validate Guidelines

Potential Positive Results From Foodshed Research

• Enhanced understanding of consumer role in the food industry
• Enhanced consumer confidence in purchasing decisions resulting in a more robust regional economy
• Enhanced predictability and decision making of food choices by consumer
• Enhanced tracking of food products and food security resulting in less waste
• Enhanced use of seasonal, indigenous food products
• Protects the environment-minimized Carbon footprint, global warming, air/water pollution, pesticides
• Keeps dollars in community and strengthens foundation of communities
• Support family farms that are committed to better food practices
• Safeguard you and family health-minimize antibiotic use, GMO, food irradiation, over-processed food
• Enhanced animal welfare
• Enhanced biodiversity, heritage and heirloom foods
• Minimize over-processed food
• Enhanced Freshness, Taste, Quality and Value of the product

Source: http://www.sustainabletable.org/issues/