A Meat and Dairy Article from All-Creatures.org

Local vs. Less

From HumaneFacts.org
August 2023

Because animal foods require vastly more energy and resources to produce than plant foods, a dietary shift away from animal products can be far more effective than simply buying local as a means of lowering one’s food-related environmental impact.

The local (or locavore) food movement focuses on the concept of “food miles” as a barometer of environmental impact and sustainability. Foods that travel less between producer and consumer are overwhelmingly perceived as more eco-friendly.

Thus, despite the inherently resource-intensive nature of raising animals for food, many advocates for environmentally responsible eating promote local animal agriculture as part of a sustainable food system.

But while there are many good reasons to source our food closer to home, prioritizing local foods is not inherently the most eco-friendly food choice.

This is because a food’s environmental impact isn’t just based on food miles. The full carbon footprint of a given food is based on a measure known as Life Cycle Assessment (LCA).

Factors that affect a food’s LCA are energy use, water use, land use, greenhouse gas emissions, harvesting methods, packaging materials, storage and preparation techniques, and other production and post production-related activities.

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Please read the ENTIRE ARTICLE HERE.

 

Transport truck on the way to the slaughterhouse...

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