Chapter 8a: Discussion Question & Activities

Objective: Reflect on your own dietary choices and shopping habits in relation to sustainability and personal health.

Instructions:

1. Self-Reflection Journal Entry:
   • Reflect on your current diet. Describe the proportions of plant-based, organic, upcycled, and conventional foods you typically consume.
   • Consider the reasons behind your dietary choices. Are they influenced by health concerns, environmental impact, cost, taste, or availability?
2. Shopping Habits Survey:
   • Create a list of the types of food you commonly purchase (e.g., dairy, meat, vegetables, grains). Next to each item, note if you prefer organic, conventional, local, or a specific brand
   • Reflect on your willingness to pay more for food items labeled organic, plant-based, or sustainable. What factors influence your decision to pay a premium for these foods?
3. Impact Analysis:
   • Research and write summary (200-300 words) on how one aspect of your diet (e.g., meat consumption, organic foods, plant-based diet) impacts the environment. Utilize resources provided in the textbook or from credible online sources.
   • Also include how much food you tend to throw away and how often (each day, week, or month, etc.). Do you compost or use landfill?
4. Future Considerations:
   • Based on what you’ve learned in this chapter and your reflections, outline any changes you might consider making to your diet, shopping habits, or food waste to support the environment. Explain your reasoning.

Activity 2: Uncovering Greenwashing in Food Marketing

Objective: identify and critically analyze instances of greenwashing in food and agricultural businesses, enhance media literacy and ethical evaluation skills.

Instructions:

1. Research a food product or brand that has been accused of greenwashing. Possible sources for finding examples include news articles, consumer reports, and sustainability watchdog websites.
   • Some websites include
     • https://www.provenance.org/news-insights/5-food-and-drink-brands-called-out-for-greenwashing-and-the-lessons-we-can-learn
     • https://www.zerosmart.co.uk/post/twelve-examples-of-greenwashing
     • https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-03-20/report-suggests-rampant-greenwashing-in-food-sector
   • Please pick a food-related example.
   • Some businesses include Oatly, Quorn, Kashi, Innocent, Simply, Starbucks, Tyson, Coca-Cola, Nestle, Ben & Jerrys, etc. If you find more than one, pick a food-related one.
2. Gather information on the product’s marketing claims related to sustainability (e.g., “eco-friendly,” “all-natural,” “sustainable,” “humane”).
3. Analyze the company’s marketing claims by researching the actual practices o behind the product. Consider the following aspects:
   • Does the company provide evidence to support its claims? Are there any independent verifications?
   • How transparent is the company about its sourcing, production processes, and environmental impact?
   • Are there contradictions between the company’s claims and its known practices or third-party reports?
4. Prepare a brief report detailing the findings, focusing on why the claim was perceived as greenwashing.
5. Create a presentation summarizing the research and analysis. Include visual aids such as screenshots of marketing materials, comparison charts, and any relevant certifications or lack thereof. Discuss the potential impact of such greenwashing on consumers and the environment.
6. After presentations, facilitate a class discussion on the common themes and tactics observed in greenwashing practices. Propose strategies that consumers can use to avoid being misled by greenwashing.

Objective: Enhance critical thinking and argumentation skills by engaging in a structured debate on controversial topics related to sustainable food practices.

Instructions:

• Get into a group (2-4 people) and choose a debate topic from the chapter (or receive one from the instructor). Possible topics include:
  • “Is a plant-based diet more environmentally sustainable than a traditional diet?”
  • “Is a plant-based diet healthier than a meat-eating diet?”
  • “Should consumers prioritize purchasing organic food over conventional food?”
  • “Should farmers use GMOs in agriculture?”
  • “Should businesses be required to donate unsold food to nonprofits rather than discard it?”
  • “Is it more ethical for companies to invest in plant-based innovation or to improve the sustainability of meat production?”
  • “Do sustainability certifications (like ‘organic’ or ‘fair trade’) genuinely reflect environmentally responsible practices?”
  • “Should food companies be held accountable for misleading environmental claims in their advertising?”
  • “Is animal labor a viable alternative to machinery in efforts to lower carbon emissions?”
  • “Do partnerships between corporations and environmental nonprofits actually lead to meaningful change, or are they just PR (public relations)?”
  • “Should governments subsidize plant-based agriculture more than livestock farming to fight climate change?”
  • “Can small farms compete fairly with large corporations in promoting sustainable practices?”
  • “Should restaurants be penalized for excessive food waste?”
  • “Is lab-grown meat a more realistic solution to global food sustainability than plant-based meat?”
• Each group will research their topic, gather evidence to support both pro and con positions. Use scientific studies, expert opinions, and statistical data from reputable sources.
• Prepare to articulate your arguments clearly, anticipate counterarguments, and formulate rebuttals. Refer to a previous chapter on effective arguments and counterarguments.

Debate Structure:

• Each debate will consist of an opening statement (1 minute), argument (2 minutes), rebuttal round (1 minute), and a closing statement (1 minute).
• Allocate specific times for each part of the debate to ensure that all teams have equal opportunities to present their cases.

Execution:

• Conduct the debates in class. Each team presents their arguments and rebuttals, adhering to the structured format.
• Encourage a respectful and constructive exchange of ideas, emphasizing the importance of listening to opposing viewpoints.
• While other groups are presenting, the audience should be taking notes in order to vote for who they think won the debate and to write a reflection afterward.

Reflection and Discussion:

• After each debate, discuss what you learned and how your perspectives may have shifted.
• Consider the complexities of each issue and the importance of evidence-based decision-making.
• Write a paragraph reflecting on how all the debates went. Reflect on whether any of the arguments presented during the debates changed your views on the issues discussed. Discuss any personal resolutions or changes you plan to make in your own shopping or eating habits based on what you learned.

Rubric for the Debate Activity