• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2020.06a
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• pp.119-119
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• 2020

Globally, the demand for food and water resources are increasing rapidly with the growing concerns of meeting the projected population upsurge, specifically by 2050. The global population is projected to hit 9.8 billion in 2050 while the food demand is expected to increase by 77% from the 2007 base year. Moreover, the already scarce water resources, especially in the food-producing regions, expected to be significantly affected as food production already accounts for over 70% of the global water resources. However, the estimated food demand encapsulated the actual demand for both human consumption and animal feed in addition to the exuberant food waste at the consumption stage of the supply chain, notably in the developed countries. Managing the food consumption demand and food waste can have across-the-board benefits on water resources and other associated food production impacts. This study assessed the water-saving potentials through food waste in Korean households using the food waste data obtained from the direct weighing analysis. The household food waste collection and characterization were carried out during the summer (July), fall (September), and winter (December) seasons of 2019. The water footprint related to the food waste within Korean households was based on the water footprint concept, i.e. indirect water use. The results of our estimation showed that an average Korean household wasted 6.15 ± 4.36 kg daily, amounting to 12.53 ± 11.10 m3 of water resources associated with the waste. On the per capita basis, an average of 0.024 ± 0.017 kg/capita/day of food was wasted resulting to 0.049 ± 0.044 m3/capital/day of water resources wasted. The food waste types that accounted for the principal share in the water footprint were beef, soybean, rice and pork with values 30.7, 10.1, 9.6, and 7.5%, respectively. Considering that the production of meat and meat products are water intensive and the agricultural water use in Korea is largely for rice production, addressing the food waste of these two important agricultural products can be a hotspot for water saving potential in the country. This study therefore provides an insight to addressing the water scarcity in the country through reducing household food waste.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.77-86
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• 2015

The agricultural water management generally has focused on water resources for crop production but it could be affected by the food consumption pattern. The aim of this study is to estimate virtual water consumption for food consumption and calorie supply using the water footprint and virtual water concept. In addition, we estimated the virtual water requirements for increasing the food and calorie self-sufficiency adjusted by the government for food security. About $330.0m^3/cap/yr$ of virtual water was consumed for the main foods consumption in 1985, and it was increased to $450.0m^3/cap/yr$ in 2010. The rate of virtual water consumption by meats consumption was 28 % in 1985 but it was increased to 54 % in 2010. In other words, the total virtual water consumption by foods consumption was increased from 1985 to 2010 with the high rate of meats consumption. The average $1.29m^3$ of virtual water was consumed for supplying 1 calorie per capita in 2010 but about $10.1m^3/cal$ of virtual water was consumed by only bovine meats consumption. The food self-sufficiency is the main factor for food security in Korea. About $46.5Mm^3$ and $393.9Mm^3$ of virtual water were required in order to increase the food and calorie self-sufficiency of wheat by 1 % individually. This study showed the water consumption was related to food consumption and calorie supply pattern, and these results could be used as the indices for the agricultural water management considering the change of eating habit and food security.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2019.05a
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• pp.232-232
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• 2019

The persistence of drought periods and water scarcity is a growing public concern, as climate change projections indicate a more critical scenario in the future. The sustainability of water resources for the increasing population, and to ensuring crop production will unarguably be a daunting task for the water resources managers, with a projected 9.8 billion people by 2050 as well as the need to increase food production by 70 to 100%. Consequently, there is a need for significant irrigation water use for more crop production in the face of stiff competition among water users. However, the available natural resources are already over-constrained, and the allocation of more resources for food production is not feasible. Currently, about two-thirds of global water withdrawer is used by the agricultural sector while 48% of water resources in Korea is used for agricultural production. Despite the apparent ecological deficit and unfavorable conditions of resources utilization, a staggering amount of food waste occurs in the country. Moreover, wastage of food translates to waste of all the resources involved in the food production including water resources. Food waste can also be considered a serious potential for economic and environmental problems. Hence, exploring an alternative approach to efficient resources utilization in a more sustainable way can ensure considerable resources conservation. We hypothesized that reducing food waste will decline the demand for food production and consequently reduce the pressure on water resources. We investigated the food wastage across the food supply chain using the top-down datasets based on the FAO mass balance model. Furthermore, the water footprint of the estimated food wastage was assessed using the representative of selected food crops. The study revealed that the average annual food wastage across the food supply chain is 9.05 million tonnes, signifying 0.51 kg/capita/day and 48% of domestic food production. Similarly, an average of 6.29 Gm3 per annum of water resources was lost to food wastage, which translates to 40% of the total allotted water resources for agriculture in the country. These considerable resources could have been conserved or efficiently used for other purposes. This study demonstrated that zero food waste generation would significantly reduce the impact on freshwater resources and ensure its conservation. There is a need for further investigation on the food waste study using the bottom-up approach, specifically at the consumer food waste, since the top-down approach is based on estimations and many assumptions were made.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2019.05a
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• pp.408-408
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• 2019

The persistence of drought periods and water scarcity is a growing public concern, as climate change projections indicate a more critical scenario in the future. The sustainability of water resources for the increasing population, and to ensuring crop production will unarguably be a daunting task for the water resources managers, with a projected 9.8 billion people by 2050 as well as the need to increase food production by 70 to 100%. Consequently, there is a need for significant irrigation water use for more crop production in the face of stiff competition among water users. However, the available natural resources are already over-constrained, and the allocation of more resources for food production is not feasible. Currently, about two-thirds of global water withdrawer is used by the agricultural sector while 48% of water resources in Korea is used for agricultural production. Despite the apparent ecological deficit and unfavorable conditions of resources utilization, a staggering amount of food waste occurs in the country. Moreover, wastage of food translates to waste of all the resources involved in the food production including water resources. Food waste can also be considered a serious potential for economic and environmental problems. Hence, exploring an alternative approach to efficient resources utilization in a more sustainable way can ensure considerable resources conservation. We hypothesized that reducing food waste will decline the demand for food production and consequently reduce the pressure on water resources. We investigated the food wastage across the food supply chain using the top-down datasets based on the FAO mass balance model. Furthermore, the water footprint of the estimated food wastage was assessed using the representative of selected food crops. The study revealed that the average annual food wastage across the food supply chain is 9.05 million tonnes, signifying 0.51 kg/capita/day and 48% of domestic food production. Similarly, an average of $6.29Gm^3$ per annum of water resources was lost to food wastage, which translates to 40% of the total allotted water resources for agriculture in the country. These considerable resources could have been conserved or efficiently used for other purposes. This study demonstrated that zero food waste generation would significantly reduce the impact on freshwater resources and ensure its conservation. There is a need for further investigation on the food waste study using the bottom-up approach, specifically at the consumer food waste, since the top-down approach is based on estimations and many assumptions were made.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2023.05a
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• pp.184-184
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• 2023

Globally, agriculture is one of the largest consumers and polluters of water resources, contributing to the unsustainable use of limited water resources. To reduce the resource use and environmental footprints associated with current and future food systems, researchers and policy makers have recommended the transition to sustainable and healthier diets and the reduction of food loss and waste along the food supply chain. However, there is limited information on the synergistic effects and trade-offs of adopting the two measures. In this study, we assessed the water-saving potential of the two measures in South Korea using environmentally extended input-output relying on the EXIOBASE database for the reference year 2020, along with scenario analysis to model the potential outcomes. Specifically, we analyzed scenarios where meat consumption was reduced by 30% and 50% and in combination with a 50% reduction in food waste at the consumption stage for each scenario. According to our findings, by considering individual measures of dietary change and food waste reduction, shifting to a diet with 30% and 50% less meat consumption could lead to reduction in water footprint by 6.9% and 7.5%, respectively, while 50% reduction in food waste at the consumption stage could save about 14% of water footprint. However, the synergistic effects of the two measures such as 30% less meat consumption and 50% food waste reduction, and 50% less meat consumption and 50% food waste reduction result to 20% and 24% reductions in water footprint, respectively. Moreover, our findings also showed that increasing food consumption with high environmental impacts could promote resources use inefficiency when waste occurs. Thus, policy strategies that address synergistic effects of both dietary change and food waste reduction should be strengthened to achieve sustainable food system. International and national policies can increase resource efficiency by utilizing all available reduction potentials while considering strategies interactions.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.69-85
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• 2023

Sustainable and healthy diet is a challenge in recent world. Despite the global depletion of water resources, Korea has no system for controlling its water footprint. This study established the water footprint tables of Korean food using the Water Footprint Network databases, and applied them into two meal plans for 19~64 year-old adults recommended in the Dietary Reference Intakes for Koreans 2020. Nut, oil, and meat's water footprints were higher and those of fruit and vegetable were lower. Sesame oil had the highest water footprint of 21,793 L/kg and pineapple had the lowest domestic water footprint of 102 L/kg. Water footprint of one serving size of beef was 925 L, that of chicken was 260 L, and those of soybean were 43 L in global and 81 L in domestic. The water footprint of the recommended 2,400 kcal meal plan was 2,882 L, and that of 1,900 kcal meal plan was 1,915 L. The water resources can be saved by choosing food with lower water footprint. The results of this study can be used in the further researches for more sustainable and healthier Korean diet.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.33 no.7
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• pp.1180-1190
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• 2020

Objective: To develop healthier comminuted meat products to meet consumer demand, the gel properties, rheological properties, microstructure and water distribution of pork meat batters formulated with various amounts of bamboo shoot dietary fiber (BSDF) were investigated. Methods: Different levels of BSDF (0% to 4%) were added to pork batters, and the pH, color, water-holding capacity, texture and rheological properties of pork batters were determined. Then, pork batters were analyzed for their microstructure and water distribution using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (LF-NMR). Results: Compared with the control, BSDF addition into meat batters showed a significant reduction in L^*-value and a significant increase in b^*-value (p<0.05). BSDF addition of up to 4% reduced the pH value of pork batters by approximately 0.15 units; however, the cooking loss and expressible water loss decreased significantly (p<0.05) with the increased addition of BSDF. The hardness and gel strength were noticeably enhanced (p<0.05) as the content of BSDF increased. The rheological results showed that BSDF added into pork batters produced higher storage modulus (G') and loss modulus (G") values. The SEM images suggested that the addition of BSDF could promote pork batters to form a more uniform and compact microstructure. The proportion of immobilized water increased significantly (p<0.05), while the population of free water was decreased (p<0.05), indicating that BSDF improved the water-holding capability of pork batters by decreasing the fraction of free water. Conclusion: BSDF could improve the gel properties, rheological properties and water distribution of pork meat batters and decrease the proportion of free water, suggesting that BSDF has great potential as an effective binder in comminuted meat products.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.292-299
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• 2017

Purpose: The present study explored cookie making performance using Jeju magma seawater to elucidate the effects of minerals in water on quality of baked goods. Methods: Seven water samples were analyzed for their mineral content, pH and water hardness. Starch pasting properties of flour in water samples was analyzed using RVA, and cookie making performance using water samples was evaluated with the AACCI wire-cut cookie baking method. Quality of cookies was measured by weight loss during baking, cookie geometry, color, and firmness. Results: Hardness of water samples ranged from 0-4200, and mineral content was in the order of magma seawater > 100% ED mineral water > 50% ED mineral water > 10% ED mineral water > tap water > Samdasoo > distilled water. RVA results showed that water hardness exhibited significant relationships with pasting temperature (p<0.05, R=0.863), peak viscosity (p<0.001, R=0.944), final viscosity (p<0.05, R=0.861), and setback (p<0.05, R=0.782). Cookie baking results showed that cookie diameter increased in the order of magma seawater < 100% ED mineral water < 50% ED mineral water < 10% ED mineral water $\approx$ tap water < Samdasoo < distilled water. Conclusion: As mineral content in water increased, flour pasting temperature and viscosity increased, whereas cookie diameter decreased with color fading. However, cookies formulated with 50% ED mineral water showed similar cookie geometry and texture to those with tap water. Therefore, controlling the mineral content of water can be successfully applied to produce mineral-enriched cookies.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2021.06a
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• pp.148-149
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• 2021

Food waste has increasingly become a global issue of concern among the researchers and policymakers due to its significant environmental and economic impacts, and other associated unsustainable use of resources, including water resources. While food wastage occurs at each stage of the supply chain with food loss at the upstream and food waste at the downstream, the impacts of food waste occurring at the consumption side are enormous due to the accumulated added values. In this study, the embedded water resources, greenhouse gas emissions, and economic loss of household food waste were investigated. The primary granular data of household food waste was collected through direct sampling from 218 selected households of the Buk-gu community in Daegu, South Korea from July 2019 to May 2020. The water footprint, which was based on the water footprint concept, i.e., indirect water use, and GHG emission potential factor for each of the food items were adopted from the literature, while the retail prices and disposal cost were used to assess the economic cost of wasted food items. The water footprint, GHG emission associated with environmental impacts, and the economic cost of 42 major identified wasted food items were conducted. The findings showed that an average of 0.73 ± 0.06 kg/household/day edible food waste was generated among the sampled households, with leafy vegetable, watermelon, and rice responsible for 10, 9, and 4%, respectively, of the total weight of the 42 food wasted items. The water footprint and environmental impact of the household food waste resulted in 0.46 ± 0.04 m³ and 0.71±0.05 kg CO2eq, respectively. Beef, pork, poultry, and rice accounted for 52, 9, 5, and 4% of the total water footprint, while beef, pork, rice, tofu/cheese had 52, 8, 6, and 6% of the total emissions, respectively, embedded in the food wasted. Furthermore, the average estimated economic cost associated with wasted food items was 3855.93±527.27 Korean won, with beef, fish, and leafy vegetable responsible for 21, 13, and 10%, respectively, of the total economic cost. A combined assessment using water-environmental-economic nexus indicated that animal-based food had the highest footprint impacts, with beef, pork, and poultry indicating high indices of 0.3, 0.08, and 0.06 respectively, on a scale of 0 to 1, compared to corn and lettuce with lowest impacts of 0.02. Other food items had moderate impact values ranging from 0.03 to 0.05. This study, therefore, provides insight into the enormity of environmental and economic implications of household food waste among Korean households.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.60 no.4
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• pp.93-103
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• 2018

The aim of this study is to apply the Water-Energy-Food-Land Nexus approach which can analyze the trade-offs among resources, and assess the holistic impacts of food security. First, we applied rice as a study crop and analyzed the trend of consumption of rice and the area of paddy fields. Second, the portfolios of water, energy, and land for rice production were constructed using data of footprints and productivity. Finally, the self-sufficiency ratio (SSR) of rice in target year was set as food security scenario and assessed the impacts of food security on water, energy, and land availability. In 2030, the SSR of rice decreased to 87 %, and water use for producing rice decreased from 4,728 to $3,350million\;m^3$, and the water availability index increased from 0.33 to 0.53. However, food security is essential issue and we set the 50 % and 100 % SSR of rice as high and low food security scenarios. For 100% SSR in 2030, about $3,508million\;m^3$ water was required and water availability index reached to 0.5. In other words, there is the trade-off between food security and water-energy-lands availability. Therefore, it is difficult to make a decision whether a high level of SSR is better or worse. However, this study showed the both positive and negative impacts by change of food security and it can be useful for setting the policy decision considering both food security and sustainable resource management at the same time.