The Carbon Cost From Farm To Fork
It's the golden rule of the local-food movement: the fewer miles that food travels, the better for the environment. The only problem is, it may not be true. "Very few studies support the idea that local-food systems are greener," says Rich Pirog of Iowa State University's Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture. When it comes to calculating the carbon cost of a certain dish, the method of transport matters as much as the distance from farm to fork. Sea-freight emissions are less than half of those associated with airplanes, trains are cleaner than trucks and a tractor-trailer can be a green machine compared with an old pickup. If you live east of Columbus, Ohio, it's actually greener to drink French Bordeaux than wine from California, which is trucked over the Rockies, according to one study. How food is grown and harvested is also key, says Gail Feenstra, a food-systems analyst at the University of California, Davis. New York state apples, for instance, can be less ecofriendly than those imported from New Zealand, where, among other things, growing conditions produce greater yields with less energy. We need a complete picture of carbon emissions, Feenstra says—not just a mile marker.
© 2008
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Member Comments
Posted By: Dionysus @ 03/12/2008 11:50:12 PM
Comment: Certain common foods can rarely be considered "local". These include wine, coffee, tea, chocolate and spices. It doesn't mean you have to give them up, but if you have a local choice, take it. Locality is really only appropriate to fruits, vegies, herbs, and any locally available foods. Its really about a small carbon footprint, sustainability, eating seasonally and organically, supporting the local culture, the local agriculture and
the local economy. Save the Earth, Write Sensibly.
Posted By: jnjarrell @ 03/10/2008 12:33:39 PM
Comment: If you are in Ohio then California wine does not count as local food. Local food is about working with products that have been produced within your community. The limitation on carbon impact is just one motivation. In addition, it promotes organic producers and supports family farms. Its about working with whats available in your region. So, someone in Ohio who chooses California wine is not supporting the local-food movement.