3.6.1.1 Food Miles and Carbon Footprint

• Food miles refer to the distance food travels from where it is grown to where it is consumed
• The carbon footprint of food includes greenhouse gas emissions from production, transportation, and consumption.
• What are the food miles of locally sourced produce compared to globally sourced produce?

  Low
• The carbon footprint of locally sourced produce is lower
• Why does importing apples from New Zealand increase their carbon footprint compared to locally grown apples in the UK?

  Extensive transportation
• Growing food is a factor contributing to the carbon footprint of food.
• Match the food type with its carbon footprint (kg CO2e per kg):

  Beef ↔️ 13.6

  Chicken ↔️ 4.5

  Tomatoes ↔️ 1.1

  Lettuce ↔️ 0.3
• How many kilograms of greenhouse gases are emitted to produce 1 kg of beef?

  13.6 kg
• The transportation of food contributes to its carbon footprint
• Chicken has a lower carbon footprint per kilogram compared to beef.
• Steps in the environmental impact of food miles:

  1️⃣ Longer distances traveled

  2️⃣ Increased fuel consumption

  3️⃣ Greenhouse gas emissions

  4️⃣ Higher carbon footprint
• What type of emissions are released when fossil fuels are burned for food transportation?

  Greenhouse gases
• Globally sourced food has lower food miles and a lower carbon footprint compared to locally sourced food.

  False
• Locally grown tomatoes have a lower environmental impact compared to those imported from abroad
• Higher food miles lead to a higher carbon footprint due to increased fossil fuel use.
• What is the relationship between food miles and carbon footprint for locally grown apples?

  Low food miles, low carbon footprint
• Steps in reducing food miles and carbon footprint:

  1️⃣ Choose locally sourced foods

  2️⃣ Reduce transportation needs

  3️⃣ Lower greenhouse gas emissions

  4️⃣ Support environmental sustainability
• Why do imported mangoes have a higher carbon footprint than locally grown apples?

  Longer transportation
• The carbon footprint of food includes emissions from transportation, storage, and consumption.
• The use of fertilizers in growing food contributes to its carbon footprint
• Match the factor contributing to the carbon footprint of food with its description:

  Growing ↔️ Use of fertilizers and equipment

  Transportation ↔️ Distance food travels

  Storage ↔️ Energy for refrigeration

  Processing ↔️ Energy for packaging
• Which food type emits the most greenhouse gases per kilogram, according to the table in the study material?

  Beef
• What is the carbon footprint of food?

  Total greenhouse gas emissions
• One factor contributing to the carbon footprint of food is the use of fertilizer in growing
• What are food miles related to in terms of the carbon footprint of food?

  Transportation
• Producing 1 kg of beef emits approximately 13.6 kg of greenhouse gases.
• Steps in the lifecycle of food that contribute to its carbon footprint.

  1️⃣ Growing

  2️⃣ Transportation

  3️⃣ Storage

  4️⃣ Processing
• What is the environmental impact of food miles?

  Increases carbon footprint
• Higher food miles lead to increased consumption of fossil fuels and greater greenhouse gas emissions
• Match the food source with its food miles and carbon footprint:

  Locally Grown Apples ↔️ Low food miles, low carbon footprint

  Imported Mangoes ↔️ High food miles, high carbon footprint
• What are the key factors influencing food miles and carbon footprint?

  Transportation, refrigeration, processing
• Purchasing food from nearby farms is known as local sourcing
• Why does seasonal eating reduce the carbon footprint of food?

  Less energy for storage
• Sustainable transport methods, such as rail, lower fuel usage and emissions.