Food carbon footprint

Every day we need food in order to survive. Where does our food come from? Where does it goes? What is the cost of filling our essential needs? We normally do not think about those issues when we eat. Do you wonder about the differences between choosing locally grown produce over produce grown overseas? The food we consume contributes to climate change. The production, packaging and transportation of food all consumes energy and results in carbon emissions which threaten to raise average global surface temperatures.

The food carbon footprint summarizes many of the components involved in the production and delivery of our food. It thus offers us a way to evaluate our choices and be aware of our impact on the market and the planet. By calculating our food carbon footprint, we can learn for example about the role of fuel, transportation, fertilizers, and agricultural practices in food production. We could also learn about the weight of ethical considerations such as choosing local vs overseas food--or selecting organic or no-tillage instead of conventional agriculture

Food carbon footprint