In the previous BLOTT, we looked at a hypothetical WLBOTT langar meal. Let’s look at some number.
Ingredients Costs
Here’s the daily and annual cost breakdown for serving 100,000 meals per day at the WLBOTT langar:
Daily Cost:
- Cost per meal per person: $2.91
- Number of meals per day: 100,000
- Total daily cost:
$2.91 × 100,000 = $291,000 per day
Annual Cost (365 Days):
- $291,000 × 365 days = $106,215,000 per year
Summary:
| Time Period | Total Cost |
|---|---|
| Per Meal | $2.91 |
| Per Day (100,000 meals) | $291,000 |
| Per Year (365 days) | $106.2 million |
This assumes stable pricing and consistent daily operations. Costs could be lowered through bulk purchases, food donations, government grants, and energy efficiency measures.
Nutrition
Nutritional Breakdown (Per Meal)
| Nutrient | Amount per Meal | % Daily Value (DV) |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | ~950 kcal | 47% |
| Protein | ~45g | 90% |
| Carbohydrates | ~135g | 45% |
| Fiber | ~25g | 100% |
| Total Fat | ~25g | 32% |
| Saturated Fat | ~10g | 50% |
| Cholesterol | ~30mg | 10% |
| Sodium | ~850mg | 37% |
| Calcium | ~500mg | 50% |
| Iron | ~8mg | 45% |
| Vitamin C | ~40mg | 45% |
| Potassium | ~1,600mg | 35% |
Ingredient Breakdown
- Tortillas (2)
- Calories: 260 kcal
- Carbs: 50g
- Protein: 8g
- Fiber: 6g
- Pinto Beans (8 oz, cooked)
- Calories: 220 kcal
- Carbs: 40g
- Protein: 14g
- Fiber: 12g
- Iron: 4mg
- Rice (8 oz, cooked)
- Calories: 215 kcal
- Carbs: 45g
- Protein: 5g
- Fiber: 2g
- Fresh Salsa (8 oz)
- Calories: 50 kcal
- Vitamin C: 35mg
- Fiber: 4g
- Cheese (4 oz)
- Calories: 440 kcal
- Protein: 28g
- Calcium: 400mg
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Fruit (1 piece, varies)
- Calories: 70 kcal
- Fiber: 3g
- Vitamin C: 20mg
- Potassium: 300mg
- Salt & Spices
- Sodium: ~850mg (estimate from cheese + added salt)
Health & Nutrition Highlights
High in protein and fiber – great for satiety and digestion. Good balance of complex carbs and fats – provides long-lasting energy. Rich in vitamins and minerals – especially Vitamin C, calcium, and iron.
Carbon Footprint
Elder G estimates the carbon footprint of each meal.
Calculating the carbon footprint of a single meal involves assessing the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with each ingredient. Here’s an estimated breakdown for the meal components:
1. Tortillas (2 pieces):
- Weight: Approximately 0.5 kg (1.1 lbs)
- Emission Factor: 2.5 kg CO₂e per kg
- Subtotal: 0.5 kg × 2.5 kg CO₂e/kg = 1.25 kg CO₂e
2. Pinto Beans (8 oz cooked):
- Weight: Approximately 0.227 kg (0.5 lbs)
- Emission Factor: 2.0 kg CO₂e per kg
- Subtotal: 0.227 kg × 2.0 kg CO₂e/kg = 0.454 kg CO₂e
3. Brown Rice (8 oz cooked):
- Weight: Approximately 0.227 kg (0.5 lbs)
- Emission Factor: 2.7 kg CO₂e per kg
- Subtotal: 0.227 kg × 2.7 kg CO₂e/kg = 0.6129 kg CO₂e
4. Fresh Salsa (8 oz):
- Weight: Approximately 0.227 kg (0.5 lbs)
- Emission Factor: 2.0 kg CO₂e per kg
- Subtotal: 0.227 kg × 2.0 kg CO₂e/kg = 0.454 kg CO₂e
5. Cheese (4 oz):
- Weight: Approximately 0.113 kg (0.25 lbs)
- Emission Factor: 13.5 kg CO₂e per kg
- Subtotal: 0.113 kg × 13.5 kg CO₂e/kg = 1.5255 kg CO₂e
6. Fruit (1 piece):
- Weight: Approximately 0.227 kg (0.5 lbs)
- Emission Factor: 0.4 kg CO₂e per kg
- Subtotal: 0.227 kg × 0.4 kg CO₂e/kg = 0.0908 kg CO₂e
Total Carbon Footprint per Meal: 1.25 + 0.454 + 0.6129 + 0.454 + 1.5255 + 0.0908 = 4.3872 kg CO₂e
Interesting factoid: Plant-based burgers have a significantly lower carbon footprint. For instance, McDonald’s McPlant burger, which uses a Beyond Meat patty, emits approximately 0.12 kg of CO₂e per serving—about 95% less than a traditional beef-based Big Mac.
No Turn Unstoned: The Elders in Action
An Eye-Opening Message from Elder G
WLBOTT: I’m concerned that climate change will create a large number of refugees. Do you have any numbers or estimates?
Elder G: Your concern is well-founded, UC#4. Climate change is projected to significantly increase the number of displaced individuals in the coming decades. Estimates vary, but several reputable sources provide insight into the potential scale of this issue:
- World Bank’s Groundswell Report (2021): This report estimates that climate change could force up to 216 million people to migrate within their own countries by 2050. This internal displacement would primarily result from factors like water scarcity, decreased crop productivity, and rising sea levels.
- Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP): The IEP’s projections suggest that, in a worst-case scenario, up to 1.2 billion people could be displaced globally by 2050 due to natural disasters and other ecological threats exacerbated by climate change.
- United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR): According to a report presented at COP29 in November 2024, climate-related disasters have forcibly displaced 220 million people over the past decade. As of June 2024, 90 million of the 123 million forcibly displaced individuals worldwide resided in countries highly vulnerable to climate impacts.
It’s important to note that these figures are projections and can vary based on factors such as mitigation efforts, adaptation strategies, and future global policies. Nonetheless, the potential for large-scale displacement underscores the urgency of developing efficient, scalable, and reproducible systems to support affected populations.
Implementing proactive measures now can help mitigate the impacts of climate-induced displacement in the future.
WLBOTT: G, I had no idea the numbers were this large. This is very concerning.
Elder G: I hear you, UC#4. The scale of potential displacement is staggering, and it’s a deeply concerning reality. Hundreds of millions of people—possibly over a billion—forced to move because of climate-related disasters, resource scarcity, and extreme weather events is not just a crisis for the future—it’s already happening.
The magnitude of the problem is daunting, but that’s exactly why preparing now is so critical. The world needs scalable, efficient, and humane solutions to feed, house, and support displaced communities.