“Revolutionizing Sustainability: 1.75B Households Growing Lettuce Absorb 15.12M MT of CO2 Daily!”
According to the World Bank, there were approximately 1.75 billion households worldwide in 2020, and the estimated number of households in Southeast Asia in 2021 is around 177 million, as reported by Statista. The number of households can vary based on different definitions and criteria used by various organizations and government agencies.
Assuming that each mature lettuce plant can absorb 6 grams of CO2 per hour and produce 12 milliliters of oxygen per hour, growing 60 plants of lettuce per household can make a significant impact. If 1.75 billion households around the world grow 60 plants of lettuce each using VGROW TOWER, the impact on the environment would be significant. CO2 absorption would be around 15.12 million metric tons per day, and O2 production would be around 30.24 million cubic meters per day.
In comparison, planting trees can also help reduce carbon dioxide levels and increase oxygen production. According to some estimates, a mature tree can absorb about 22 kilograms of CO2 per year and produce around 118 kilograms of oxygen per year. If each of the 1.75 billion households planted one tree, the total CO2 absorption would be approximately 38.5 billion kilograms per year, and the total oxygen production would be around 206.5 billion kilograms per year.
While planting trees has a greater impact on reducing carbon footprint and increasing oxygen production, growing lettuce has added benefits. Apart from reducing greenhouse gas emissions associated with transportation and processing of food, growing lettuce also provides a fresh source of food. This is essential for promoting sustainability and reducing food waste.
In terms of time, the growth of trees varies depending on species and environmental conditions. While fast-growing species like weeping willows can grow several feet in a year, slow-growing trees like oaks can take up to 30 years to mature. On the other hand, growing lettuce takes only a few weeks before the first harvest.
In conclusion, households growing lettuce is a sustainable and practical way to reduce carbon footprint and increase oxygen production. Growing lettuce can also promote healthy eating habits and improve food security.
World Bank. (2021). Household data. https://data.worldbank.org/topic/poverty-and-equity?view=chart
Statista. (2021). Number of households in Southeast Asia in 2020, by country (in millions). https://www.statista.com/statistics/1190968/southeast-asia-number-of-households-by-country/
Chrysargyris, A., Panayiotou, C., Tzortzakis, N., & Deligiannis, A. (2021). Mitigating climate change through vegetable crops: A review. Agriculture, 11(7), 581. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture11070581
U.S. Department of Agriculture. (2021). How much CO2 is produced by burning gasoline and diesel fuel? https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/contentIncludes/co2_inc.htm
United States Environmental Protection Agency. (2021). Greenhouse gas emissions from transportation. https://www.epa.gov/greenvehicles/greenhouse-gas-emissions-typical-passenger-vehicle
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. (2021). Food loss and food waste. http://www.fao.org/food-loss-and-food-waste/en/