How does using peanuts help the environment?

Nowadays, all the decisions we make need to be made with thought to the environment. Luckily peanuts are yummy and the best nuts (we know they are legumes, but we are using the term “nuts” generally) in terms of the environment. Keep reading and find out how.

 

Reason #1: In these days of droughts ravaging the US, peanuts are doing their part. Look at this water-use comparison done by the UNESCO Institute for Water Education. Peanuts have the lightest water footprint compared to almonds, walnuts, and pistachios. Do the math and you will see that peanuts use less than 6% of the water used by almonds!

Peanuts - water use

Why? Because most peanuts do not need irrigation since they are grown in southeast U.S., which has plentiful rain. Also, peanuts are a deep-rooting crop with roots that reach nearly two meters (6 feet or so) into the soil. This allows access to a substantial bank of water to draw from, reducing the amount of irrigation water needed.

As climate change continues to strain our fresh water supply, we will increasingly rely on water-light crops. Peanuts fit the bill.

Reason #2: There are no genetically modified peanuts on the U.S. market. The fewer GMO crops we produce, the less chance they leak into nature and mess things up (that is our super-technical understanding of GMO. And we are sticking with it!).

Reason #3: Peanuts are naturally sustainable because they are legumes (see? We told you peanuts are not actually nuts!), which are nitrogen-fixing.

Peanuts - nitrogen-fixing 

This means peanuts replenish soil with nitrogen and that they need less fertilizer, resulting in (drumroll, please!!!) Reason #4 less greenhouse gas emissions.

And there you have it, environment-lovers everywhere! Peanuts are the smart choice when it come to the environment!