Now Accepting Applications for Post Doctoral Fellowship
See Below for Description and Application Instructions
Environmental Nutrition at LLUSPH
Environmental Nutrition is currently the focus of an interdisciplinary academic research group at the School of Public Health, Loma Linda University. The information on our website is relevant to students, researchers, not for profit organizations and other interested groups.
What is environmental nutrition?
Environmental Nutrition emerged from a recognition that the complex interactions within the food system related to health and environment need to be considered simultaneously. Environmental Nutrition goes beyond the scope of current discussions on sustainable diets and systematically considers the interrelationships within food systems to necessarily incorporate a complete understanding. Nourishing a growing population while balancing what the Earth can provide and absorb is increasingly recognized as a major global challenge. The conventional food system threatens our health and overall well-being with increased air and water pollution, toxic chemical exposure, antibiotic-resistant bacteria, soil erosion, climate change inducing greenhouse gas emissions, and loss of biodiversity. Widely held consensus among medical and public health professionals finds that today’s typical ‘diet of affluence’ contributes to a range of costly health problems, including obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cognitive decline and dementia, other neurodegenerative disorders, and various kinds of cancer. Environmental nutrition, therefore, is a useful tool for critically analyzing the wide-reaching environmental, social, and health impacts of industrial agriculture.
What are sustainable diets?
By definition, a ‘sustainable’ diet should use resources without exhausting or destroying them, and hence should be able to be sustained in the long term. This includes staying within the Earth’s biophysical capacity, i.e. what the planet can sustain in terms of resource provision and absorption of wastes, including greenhouse gas emissions. The growing body of research on sustainable diets has been recognized by a variety of international bodies including the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO). The FAO define sustainable diets as “those diets with low environmental impacts which contribute to food and nutrition security and to healthy life for present and future generations. Sustainable diets are protective and respectful of biodiversity and ecosystems, culturally acceptable, accessible, economically fair and affordable; nutritionally adequate, safe and healthy; while optimizing natural and human resources.” The food system is currently a major contributor to severe environmental problems, such as biodiversity loss and climate change. This contribution is envisaged to increase, given the global shift in food consumption patterns towards the ‘western’ palette of high animal products. Addressing consumption patterns, food waste and resource intensive methods of agricultural production are considered crucial for enabling wide scale adoption of sustainable diets.
Who we are
The environmental nutrition team brings together a wide range of experience, skills and specialties. As a core strength, the team combines a range of disciplines including epidemiology, nutrition, environmental health, biology, and environmental science. Our skills include environmental assessment, food life cycle assessment, statistical analysis, and Geographical Information Systems applications.
Joan Sabate, MD, DrPH
Joan has a doctoral degree in public health nutrition, and has worked in the area of Environmental Nutrition for over 10 years. He has a broad, multidisciplinary background including nutrition, epidemiology, and statistics. He was Chair of the nutrition department at Loma Linda University for 17 years and led many research projects to completion. Currently, Joan is the co-Director of the Environmental Nutrition research program at Loma Linda University. More>>
Ujué Fresán
Ujue is currently working as a postdoctoral researcher in our group. She has wide formation in different fields of the life sciences. She has a degree on Pharmacy, done in University of Navarra (Spain), being nominated for the best student in Pharmacy degree 2005-2010. After that, she did a Masters in Public Health. During this period, she designed a theoretical project to be carried out in a medical centre in order to decrease the risk of cardiovascular diseases on the elderly, awarded with the best mark. After that, she did a PhD in Biomedicine, in the Molecular Biology Institute of Barcelona, belonging to the state-dependent Superior Council of Scientific Research (CSIC). From then on, she has been working as a post-doctoral researcher in the Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, in the University of Navarra, analyzing data from the cohort study of the SUN project. Apart from analyzing relationships between nutritional aspects and different chronic diseases´ risk, she has been working on environmental footprints of diets. Apart from that, she has been coordinating a PhD project in Barcelona related to Predimed-Plus, been responsible of doing the training of field workers and collecting data.
William Ripple, PhD
William is a Distinguished Professor of Ecology at Oregon State University, specializing in carnivores, mammal ecology, and biodiversity conservation. Additionally, he is an adjunct professor in Environmental Nutrition at Loma Linda University’s School of Public Health. He is a widely published researcher, lecturer, and prominent international figure in the field of ecology. Dr. Ripple also studies and publishes research about the environmental and climate effects of livestock and human carnivory (meat eating by humans). More>>
Previous Members
- Sam Soret, PhD
- Helen Harwatt, PhD
- Alfredo Mejia, DrPH
What we offer
Our key specialty services
Assessing the sustainability of food systems.
Environmental sustainability and nutritional analysis of dietary patterns and foods, including plant-based alternatives to meat.
Seminars/lectures on sustainable diets/food systems.
Analysis of the food system in relation to climate change mitigation targets, resilience and food security.
Publications & Projects
47Publications
- Ujué Fresán, D.L. Marrin, Maximino Alfredo Mejia, Joan Sabaté. Water Footprint of Meat Analogs: Selected Indicators According to Life Cycle Assessment, Water (2019) 11(4), 728, https://doi.org/10.3390/w11040728.
- Maximino Alfredo Mejia, Ujué Fresán, Helan Harwatt, Keiji Oda, Griselda Uriegas-Mejia, Joan Sabaté. (2019) Life Cycle Assessment of the Production of a Large Variety of Meat Analogs by Three Diverse Factors, Journal of Hunger & Environmental Nutrition, DOI: 10.1080/19320248.2019.1595251.
- Alfredo Mejia, Helen Harwatt, Karen Jaceldo-Siegl, Kitti Sranacharoenpong, Samuel Soret & Joan Sabaté (2017): Greenhouse Gas Emissions Generated by Tofu Production: A Case Study, Journal of Hunger & Environmental Nutrition, 13:1, 131-42, DOI:10.1080/19320248.2017.1315323
- Ujué Fresán, Helen Harwatt, Joan Sabaté. Developing a Methodology for Estimating Transport Related C02 Emissions for Food Commodities, Journal of Sustainable Development, 2018; 11(6)47-58.
- Harwatt, H., Sabaté, J., Eshel, G., Soret, S., Ripple, W. Substituting beans for beef as a contribution toward US climate change targets. Climatic Change (, 143, 261–270. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-017-1969-1
- Sabaté, J., Harwatt, H. and Soret, S. Environmental Nutrition: A new frontier for Public Health. Am J Public Health. 2016;106:815-821.
- Marlow, H. Harwatt, H. Soret, S and Sabaté, J. Comparing the water, energy, pesticide and fertilizer usage for the production of foods consumed by different dietary types in California. Public Health Nutrition 2015; 18 (13): 2425-2432. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1368980014002833
- Machovina, B., Feeley, K. J., & Ripple, W. J. (2015). Biodiversity conservation: The key is reducing meat consumption. Science of the Total Environment, 536, 419-431. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.07.022
- McAlpine, C. A., Seabrook, L. M., Ryan, J. G., Feeney, B. J., Ripple, W. J., Ehrlich, A. H., & Ehrlich, P. R. (2015). Transformational change: creating a safe operating space for humanity. Ecology and Society, 20(1); 56. http://dx.doi.org/10.5751/ES-07181-200156
- Batchelor, J. L., Ripple, W. J., Wilson, T. M., & Painter, L. E. (2015). Restoration of Riparian Areas Following the Removal of Cattle in the Northwestern Great Basin. Environmental management, 55(4), 930-942. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-014-0436-2
- Ripple, W. J., Newsome, T. M., Wolf, C., Dirzo, R., Everatt, K. T., Galetti, M., … & Macdonald, D. W. (2015). Collapse of the world’s largest herbivores. Science Advances, 1(4). doi: 10.1126/sciadv.1400103
- Soret, S. Mejia, A. Batech, M. Jaceldo-Siegl, K. Harwatt, H and Sabaté, J. (2014) Climate change mitigation and health effects of varied dietary patterns in real-life settings throughout North America. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 100: 490S-495S. https://doi.org/10.3945/ajcn.113.071589
- Sabaté, J and Soret, S. (2014) Sustainability of plant-based diets: Back to the future. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition;100:476S-482S. https://doi.org/10.3945/ajcn.113.071522
- Sabaté, J. Sranacharoenpong, K. Harwatt, H. Wien, M. and Soret, S. (2014) The Environmental Cost of Protein Food Choices. Public Health Nutrition, Nov 6:1-7. doi:10.1017/S1368980014002377
- Ripple W.J., Estes, J.A., Beschta, R.L. Wilmers, C.C., Richie, E.G., Hebblewhite, M., et al. 2014. Status and ecological effects of the world’s largest carnivores. Science. 343: 1241484 DOI: 10.1126/science.1241484
- Ripple, W. J., Smith, P., Haberl, H., Montzka, S.A., McAlpine, D., Boucher, D.H. 2014. Ruminants, climate change, and climate policy. Nature Climate Change. 4:2-5.
- Sabaté, J and Hawkins I (2013). Defining “sustainable” and “healthy” diets in an era of great environmental concern and increased prevalence of chronic diseases. Letter to the editor in response to Macdiarmid JI, et al. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition; 2013; 97:1151.
- Marlow, HJ. Hayes,WK. Soret, S. Carter, RL. Schwab, ER. and Sabaté, J (2009) Diet and the environment: does what you eat matter? The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 89, 1699S-1703S.
- Marlow, H (2006) The environmental impact of dietary choice and agriculture in California. Doctoral thesis dissertation. Loma Linda University.
- Reijnders, L and Soret, S (2003) Quantification of the environmental impact of different dietary protein choices. The American journal of clinical nutrition 78, 664s-668s.
Current projects
Current Projects
Environmental and health assessment of dietary patterns within the Adventist Health Study We have privileged access to the Adventist Health Study data, which contains longitudinal health and dietary information for more than 96,000 individuals. This allows us to simultaneously assess the health and environmental outcomes related to diverse dietary patterns. We consider this line of inquiry to be our unique niche.
Environmental impacts and nutritional assessment of plant-based meat alternatives We have proprietary production data from 3 manufacturers for more than 70 products that are designed to replace meat in the diet. For each product, we are assessing the environmental impacts and nutritional qualities. Life cycle assessment software (SimaPro) is being used to estimate the inputs (water, energy and land) and outputs (greenhouse gas emissions, water pollution and acidification), for each product.
Presentations
View the groundbreaking paper that proposes Environmental Nutrition: A new frontier for Public Health. Published online, March 17th 2016. Abstract. See the paper in the May 2016 print issue of the American Journal of Public Health.
View the groundbreaking paper that proposes Environmental Nutrition: A new frontier for Public Health. Published online, March 17th 2016. Abstract. See the paper in the May 2016 print issue of the American Journal of Public Health.
Fellowships in Environmental Nutrition
Background
There is substantial evidence linking agricultural production and environmental degradation. Growing public awareness of various environmental issues such as global warming, toxic residues in food, and biodiversity loss has brought about a call for sustainable food production practices. Against a backdrop of an increasing world population, a key issue in future food supply is that, even in well-endowed areas, there are limits to the impact that the natural and human systems of the environment can tolerate. Thus, daily food choices by large segments of the population can ultimately result in an effect on the environment and may have public health consequences. Moreover, it has been suggested that global climate change will alter agricultural productivity across wide geographic areas, decreasing food security and resulting in changes in population food patterns.
Doctoral Programs
The first Environmental Nutrition doctorate project was completed in 2006 on the natural resource requirements of dietary choices in California. There are many Environmental Nutrition topics that could be covered through doctoral studies. The program could incorporate natural and environmental sciences, nutrition and/or epidemiology. Students could study for a DrPH or a PhD and be based in the School of Public Health and/or the Department of Earth and Biological Sciences. If you are interested, please contact Dr. Sujatha Rajaram: srajaram@llu.edu.
Postdoctoral Fellowship
The environmental nutrition postdoctoral fellowship began in 2008. Activities have included data collection on the environmental impacts of foods, analysis of dietary patterns and writing journal articles. The award is for one year, with renewal for a second year upon successful completion of first year goals, and carries a stipend of $49,920 per year with an additional $3,000 per year for research expenses. The focus of this Fellowship Program is the interrelation among food, environment and public health. It is specifically designed to investigate the impact of food production, processing, distribution and consumption on the environment and public health. This position will focus on research and writing. A schedule of research topics and activities will be designed in line with the Environmental Nutrition agenda.
Requirements
How to apply
The next fellowship is scheduled to be available from July 2019. Interested applicants should contact Professor Joan Sabaté: jsabate@llu.edu.
Media Coverage
GQ – The Easiest Way to Fight Climate Change Might Be to Eat More Beans. Antarctica is melting; summer temperatures are rising; coral reefs are dying; and all your non-trump-supporting friends are probably freaking out about the increasingly terrifying reality that is climate change. Read more
Huffington Post- The Vegan Argument. Can we say whether or not a well balanced, vegan diet is BEST for human health? I will tell you the answer momentarily, but first- reasons for posing the question now. Read more
Vice – Study Says Beans Actually Make Us Less Gassy than Meat. Thanks to researchers at Loma Linda University, we can now really put our proteins in perspective and deal with this stark reality: if Americans were to sub beans in for beef, the US would “immediately” reach 50 to 75 of its reduced greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) targets for 2020. Read more
Popular Science- Replacing beef with beans could save the planet, because people farts are better than cow farts. There’s an old childhood ditty about eating beans that starts off “beans, beans, they’re good for your heart,” and ends with a snicker-inducing line about their other well-known effects — (rhymes with “heart”). Read more
Fast Company – Eating Beans Could Be A Magical Solution To Climate Change. There is a cause of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that nobody likes to talk about, and it is cow farts. In a single day, a lone cow can fill a 55-gallon bag with methane-laden gas–methane being a GHG as much as 30 times more damaging than carbon dioxide–and at least 1.5 billion cows roam the planet. The meat and dairy industry accounts for as much as 15% of global emissions. Read more
- Fusion – If we all ate beans instead of meat there’d actually be some huge gas reductions
- NUVO Magazine – The Magical Fruit
- ExtraCrispy.com – Eating More Bean Will Lead to Fewer Farts, Says Study
- ScienceDaily.com – Eating beans instead of beef would sharply reduce greenhouse gasses
- PopularMechanics.com – The Cure for Climate Change Might Be on Your Plate
- Loma Linda Researchers Propose New Field of Public Health: Environmental Nutrition
- Eat less meat for a longer, greener life – Meat Free Monday
- Vegan Diet Is the Most Sustainable
- Study says global consumption of meat needs to fall
- Environmental footprint of vegan and vegetarian diets 30% lower than non-vegetarian diets say researchers ‘We have to drastically cut consumption of meat and dairy’
- A Vegetarian Diet can Increase Longevity, Help Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions
- Feeding the planet in 2050 – with or without animal products?
- For want of a T-bone steak the Biosphere was lost
- Vegetarian diets produce fewer greenhouse gases and increase longevity, say new studies. Science Daily
- Vegetarian Diet Extends Lifespan, Cuts Greenhouse Emissions: Study
- Vegetarian diets lead to cleaner environment, longer lives
- Vegetarian Diet Increases Longevity And Is Good For The Environment, Study Finds
- Plant-Based Diets Produce Fewer Greenhouse Gases, Increase Longevity
- Going green – the benefits of meatless eating
- Vegetarians live 20% longer, according to massive study
- Do I have to be vegan to combat climate change?
Resources
Center for Agriculture and Food Systems, Vermont Law School
Basque Centre for Climate Change
University of Manchester Sustainable Consumption Institute
The Oxford Martin Programme on the Future of Food
Agriculture and Food Security Center, Columbia University
Leverhulme Centre for Integrative Research on Agriculture and Health
Agriculture and Health Research Group, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Contact us
Contact us
Email: envnutrition@llu.edu Phone: Laura Moore (Administrative Analyst) 909 558 8750 (extension 88750) Mail: Laura Moore, 1304 Nichol Hall, School of Public Health, Loma Linda University, 24951 North Circle Drive, Loma Linda, California 92350, USA.