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Engineering a Better World: Goal 2 Zero Hunger

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Have you ever thought about how potatoes can be modified to fight off disease? Engineers across the globe are doing things just like this to help beat hunger and contribute to the SDGs. The SDGs, also known as the Sustainable Development Goals, are 17 goals laid out by the United Nations that aim to make the Earth a better and more sustainable place to live. Goal #2, Zero Hunger, looks to end hunger and food insecurity around the world.

Here are 3 innovative and unique ways some engineers are taking action against hunger:

1 – Disease Fighting Potatoes

Photo: https://mndaily.com/239997/news/adpotato/

Did you know that the disease that caused the Irish Potato Famine about 175 years ago is still around and devastating communities across the globe? This is especially the case in Bangladesh, which already has one of the highest rates of child malnutrition on Earth. The issues with crops often lead to farmers using harsh chemicals like insecticide and fungicide which can be damaging to people and the environment. As a result, researchers from the United States, Indonesia and Bangladesh are working on genetically modifying potatoes that are resistant to the disease! They hope through genetic engineering, they will be able to fight off food insecurity and keep people fed, as well as prevent the need for chemicals

2 – Peanut Paste to Fight Malnutrition

Photo: https://www.nutriset.fr/en/history

Malnutrition is an issue caused by not receiving the nutrients your body needs to function. This can make someone more susceptible to infections, slower at fighting off illnesses, and cause both short and long term health problems. Nutriset was founded by an agricultural engineer in France who wanted to feed populations who don’t have access to nutritious food. Since then, the company has developed numerous products that treat many nutritional deficiencies from acute malnutrition to chronic malnutrition. One of their most notorious products is called Plumpy’Nut, a peanut paste food supplement that helps malnourished children gain 2 pounds a week!

3 – At-Home Milk Testing

Photo: https://www.alj.com/en/perspective/j-wafs-in-action-providing-safe-clean-milk-to-rural-communities/

Did you know that India produces more milk than any other country, but only ¼ of that milk gets tested when it is sourced? Hundreds of thousands of people die from foodborne diseases every year, and making milk production more secure is a key way to reduce hunger and save lives. This led to engineers designing an easy and inexpensive device to test milk quality. The team, funded by MIT’s Abdul Latif Jameel Water and Food Security Lab, uses a sensor to scan for fat and protein and then sends the results to a smartphone. This not only allows farmers to ensure the quality of their milk before selling it, but also helps them better price milk with a higher fat percentage for more money!

These are just a few examples of how engineers are using their minds and skills to improve conditions for people around the world. Innovations like these have the direct potential to save tons of lives, and help eradicate hunger in the process.

Fashion Forward Engineering

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Photo: https://urbanmilwaukee.com/pressrelease/female-engineer-launches-fashionable-steel-toed-footwear-company/

Clothes play a huge role in our self-esteem – they allow us to express who we are and help boost our confidence in our daily lives. Feeling good about yourself has many benefits, and can even make your work better.

This led project engineer Anastasia Kraft to start Xena Workwear and make a fashion-forward steel-toe shoe for women working in STEM fields!

In many STEM industries, you have to wear steel-toed boots while at on-site facilities. These boots help protect your feet from injuries.

For a long time, many female engineers have felt frustrated or have struggled with confidence in these places because of the shoe options available to them. Steel-toed shoes have classically been designed for men. Because of this, they can often be bulky, masculine looking, and hard to transition from on-site locations into the office. The more feminine options available are often just smaller versions of men’s shoes with a splash of pink on them.

This frustration led Anastasia to create a line of steel-toed shoes for women that are fashionable, trendy and, importantly, safe for work! They currently make 3 different styles of shoes in a variety of colours with vegan and non-vegan options.

The shoes have been met with an incredibly positive reaction from women in the industry!

Because of Anastasia, women have more options to help make them feel good and confident while working. She saw something that was lacking from the engineering world and created a product many now love. By having more girls in engineering, we can make the industry more comfortable and approachable for future generations of engineers so they can put their best foot forward.

5 Ways to Help Reduce Food Waste

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In the past couple of decades, food waste has been identified by a major issue in many countries. According to a study in 2014, the amount of preventable food waste discarded annually in Canada amounted to over $31 billion in losses, with approximately 47% of food waste produced by consumers. 

Food waste food has many environmental, economic and social impacts. For example, when food ends up in the landfill, a greenhouse gas that is 21x more potent than carbon dioxide is produced and enters the atmosphere and it is estimated that these emissions make up 7% of all of the greenhouse gases produced globally. When you waste food that could have been eaten, you are also wasting the natural and human resources that were used to grow, produce, process and transport that food. Therefore, it is important to practice sustainable eating habits to help reduce the effects of food waste. Although there may be larger scale solutions for engineers to design, below are five solutions you could try to incorporate into your lifestyle to help reduce your food waste at home:

  1. Don’t over buy. Keep track of what you’ve bought and used. Check your fridge and cupboards often to remind you of what’s there so you can use your products before the ‘best-before’ dates. 
  2. Eat produce of all shapes and sizes. There have been new produce brands, such as No Name’s ‘Naturally Imperfect’ that sells items that may not appear perfect but have nothing wrong with the taste at a lower cost. This helps eliminate food waste by consuming the misshapen produce that farmers would typically throw away. You can also use ‘imperfect’ foods in products like drinks, jams, hummus, and spreads! 
  3. Plan ahead. Think about what you’re going to cook and how you’ll use the leftovers. If you don’t think you will be able to go through the food in the week, buy it another time!
  4. Food Donation Programs. Sending food to a food donation program can put your surplus of food to good use by helping address food insecurity rather than going to waste. 
  5. Use your freezer. Freezers are a great way to preserve food to eat at a later date! If you don’t think you can use your food in a timely manner, save it for later by using your freezer. 

References: https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/how-reduce-food-wastehttps://changeforclimate.ca/story/the-problem-of-food-waste