233
Discussion Points and Exercises
1. Give three important examples of the food–energy–water nexus discussed in
this chapter. Next, write one or two paragraphs describing a facility in or near
your hometown that highlights the food–water–energy nexus.
2. Briefly explain the link between thermal discharges and water quality. Then use
the Internet to identify four to five plant or animal species that may be
particularly affected by thermal discharges.
3. Provide three examples of mechanisms designed to reduce negative nexus impacts
resulting from the production or use of one or more of the “three great consumables” at the local or regional level. Briefly explain each mechanism works.
4. Identify four key areas where food policy implicates the FEW nexus and give
one or two concrete examples for each area. Then suggest at least two areas
where food policy could reduce energy or water intensity in food production.
5. Why does the development of biofuels represent an especially important area
where the FEW nexus should be considered?
6. Use the Internet to find data on two biofuels crops in the USA, including total
acreage planted, and irrigation water required. Then graph those data using a
spreadsheet program like Excel or Google Sheets. Be sure to provide a
meaningful title for your graph, and to include units on the graph’s axes.
7. Plan a meal you can make for yourself that includes at a minimum a vegetable,
a protein, and a grain or starch. Make a list of the ingredients. Go to the local
supermarket and find all the ingredients you would need (you do not actually
have to purchase them, just look at them.) Using the labels, determine as
accurately as you can where each ingredient was grown or processed. Then, use
a mapping program like Google Maps or Google Earth to make a map of where
each ingredient originated.
8. Using your results from Question 7, calculate the distance between the origin
of each ingredient (as best you can figure) and your home or campus. Add up
the mileage for all the ingredients, then do a rough calculation to estimate the
petroleum used to truck or ship your meal. Refer to a reliable source such as the
Energy Information Administration (www.eia.gov) for data on fuel consumption
of various vehicles (train, truck, and ship).
9. Much of the USA’s long-distance shipment of food grains occurs by rail, which
is far more efficient than a truck. CSX, one of the country’s major rail shippers,
claims it can move one ton of freight 500 miles using only one gallon of diesel
fuel. Do some “back-of-the-envelope” calculations to compare that per-ton
efficiency to the efficiency of an 18-wheeler truck carrying 15 tons of freight.
Use EIA or a similarly reliable source to determine fuel consumption (mpg) for
the trucks (you will likely find this data called “average fleet fuel economy” or
similar. Be sure to calculate your calculated value has the same units so that it
can be compared directly to the train’s efficiency.
10. How much virtual water does the USA export annually? Virtual water is a concept designed to account for the water needed to produce certain goods, usually
foods. A tomato grown in a Canadian hothouse and sold in California, for
8 US Governance
Discussion Points and Exercises
1. Give three important examples of the food–energy–water nexus discussed in
this chapter. Next, write one or two paragraphs describing a facility in or near
your hometown that highlights the food–water–energy nexus.
2. Briefly explain the link between thermal discharges and water quality. Then use
the Internet to identify four to five plant or animal species that may be
particularly affected by thermal discharges.
3. Provide three examples of mechanisms designed to reduce negative nexus impacts
resulting from the production or use of one or more of the “three great consumables” at the local or regional level. Briefly explain each mechanism works.
4. Identify four key areas where food policy implicates the FEW nexus and give
one or two concrete examples for each area. Then suggest at least two areas
where food policy could reduce energy or water intensity in food production.
5. Why does the development of biofuels represent an especially important area
where the FEW nexus should be considered?
6. Use the Internet to find data on two biofuels crops in the USA, including total
acreage planted, and irrigation water required. Then graph those data using a
spreadsheet program like Excel or Google Sheets. Be sure to provide a
meaningful title for your graph, and to include units on the graph’s axes.
7. Plan a meal you can make for yourself that includes at a minimum a vegetable,
a protein, and a grain or starch. Make a list of the ingredients. Go to the local
supermarket and find all the ingredients you would need (you do not actually
have to purchase them, just look at them.) Using the labels, determine as
accurately as you can where each ingredient was grown or processed. Then, use
a mapping program like Google Maps or Google Earth to make a map of where
each ingredient originated.
8. Using your results from Question 7, calculate the distance between the origin
of each ingredient (as best you can figure) and your home or campus. Add up
the mileage for all the ingredients, then do a rough calculation to estimate the
petroleum used to truck or ship your meal. Refer to a reliable source such as the
Energy Information Administration (www.eia.gov) for data on fuel consumption
of various vehicles (train, truck, and ship).
9. Much of the USA’s long-distance shipment of food grains occurs by rail, which
is far more efficient than a truck. CSX, one of the country’s major rail shippers,
claims it can move one ton of freight 500 miles using only one gallon of diesel
fuel. Do some “back-of-the-envelope” calculations to compare that per-ton
efficiency to the efficiency of an 18-wheeler truck carrying 15 tons of freight.
Use EIA or a similarly reliable source to determine fuel consumption (mpg) for
the trucks (you will likely find this data called “average fleet fuel economy” or
similar. Be sure to calculate your calculated value has the same units so that it
can be compared directly to the train’s efficiency.
10. How much virtual water does the USA export annually? Virtual water is a concept designed to account for the water needed to produce certain goods, usually
foods. A tomato grown in a Canadian hothouse and sold in California, for
8 US Governance