Infomaniacs: May 02, 2017 (8:00am)

Researchers at Texas A&M University and Prairie View A&M University Are Seeking Answers On How Food Waste Connects to Broader Systems

An interdisciplinary team is exploring how everyday choices can boost health, save water, and conserve energy. Approximately 30 to 40 percent of the food supply in the United States goes to waste, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. That waste represents more than just uneaten meals. It also represents wasted water, lost energy and missed opportunities to improve health. A team of researchers at Texas A&M University and Prairie View A&M University is seeking answers on how food waste connects to broader systems and how decisions in one area affect others. Connecting the dots The Food-Energy-Water-Health (FEWH) nexus Sustainability team examines how these essential resources interact in everyday life, rather than in isolation. “When you throw away food, you’re not just wasting food,” said Dr. Konstantinos Pappas, associate director of the Texas A&M Energy Institute. “You’re also wasting the water and energy that went into producing it.” Pappas co-leads this interdisciplinary project with Dr. Khalil Dirani, head of the Department of Educational Administration and Human Resource Development at Texas A&M’s College of Education and Human Development. The team also includes Dr. Beth Racine of Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Dr. Jennifer Quinlan of Prairie View A&M. This interdisciplinary team, joined by several other scholars, collaborated on research that focuses on an important but often overlooked aspect of sustainability: How people behave. Why everyday decisions matter While technology and infrastructure are important, researchers say many challenges with sustainability come down to social behavior and the decisions people make at home. “A large amount of food waste happens at the household level,” said Quinlan, director of Prairie View A&M’s Food Security Research Center in the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources. “You can make food production efficient, but if people are still throwing away 30 percent of it, you’re still wasting a lot.” Food insecurity also plays a role. According to Feeding Texas, more than 17 percent of Texans are struggling to access enough nutritious food. Meanwhile, nutrient-rich foods such as produce, meat and milk are among the most often wasted. Researchers add that limited access to resources in some communities can make matters worse. Focus on Texas and the digital footprint The Lone Star State provides a unique environment for this study, with the Texas Demographics Center predicting the population to grow from about 30 million to nearly 50 million by 2060. The rapid growth means more demand for food, water and energy, and each community will experience these challenges differently due to factors such as climate and infrastructure. To better understand these differences, researchers are using the Greater Texas Community Panel, a large-scale survey of residents in Dallas, Tarrant, El Paso and Hidalgo counties that is funded by the Texas A&M AgriLife Institute for Advancing Health through Agriculture. The survey captures what people know, how they behave and what influences their choices about food, water and energy. “We can say, ‘this is what people in our community think and how they’re acting,’” said Racine, director of the Texas A&M AgriLife Research Center at El Paso. The project also explores emerging issues such as data centers and how communities perceive their impact on water and energy resources. From research to action The research team is collecting data across Texas communities and will begin analyzing results later this year. “Our goal is to turn research into action. The results will be easy for people to understand and hopefully trigger change,” Dirani said. In the meantime, researchers offer these ways to reduce food waste now: Plan meals before grocery shopping Keep your refrigerator at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below Avoid buying more food than you need Use leftovers instead of throwing food away Considering composting food scraps “If people understand that everything is interconnected, that alone can make a big difference,” Pappas said. By Ruben Hidalgo, Texas A&M University College of Education and Human Development

Amber Alert Issued For Bryan Teenager

Chasity Faith Herrera has been reported missing to the City of Bryan Police Department. She is 13 years old and was last seen at approximately 10:50pm on Monday July 20, 2026 in the 3000 blk of Oklahoma Avenue, Bryan, Brazos County, TX. She was last seen wearing a black top and gray shorts. Let’s bring her home today!

Neil Sperry on The Infomanics

Today, Neil Sperry joins the show to help out Riley with her backyard grass issues. Listen to “Neil Sperry on The Infomanics” on Spreaker.