‘Eat local’ is a recommendation we hear often with regard to our #climate impact, but while well intentioned, it’s often misguided.
Most agricultural emissions come from land use changes & processes at the farm. While local #food *can* benefit the climate, it all depends on what we’re consuming, where in the world we are (is it energy intensive to grow/raise in the region?) & how it was produced.
Personally, I still like to eat locally when it benefits farms & other businesses in my community.
@Sheril Aye, we try and eat local, in season veg, that's regionally appropriate from our local farmers market.
We love how fresh it is, but also we like not supporting big-ag.
@Sheril I live in California, always have, and am EXTREMELY fortunate to have access to food from w/in 200mi that I can eat. It's usually organic and we have farmers markets all year long. I can understand that kind of push for us. I can't understand this in food deserts, in low income areas where folks do well to have a meal at all, in places with no natural ability to grow certain things (most of central Europe comes to mind).
The lack of intersectionality is the problem from where I sit.
Are plant based foods usually more sustainable to consume?
@geotechland Yes.
Plant based foods require less water, fertilizer & energy & produce fewer emissions. And if we reduce the amount of land currently used for livestock, it will have an enormous impact in terms of curbing emissions.
@Sheril
Eat local should reduce carbon emissions from transportation from further afield. Sure, at the micro level, how something's being produced makes a difference. But I think it's better to get people thinking local before thinking about these costs.
Changes we need to make are monumental. Every journey starts with a single step.
@Sheril
Really? So living in Europe & getting your winter fruit from South Africa or South America isn't that much. Hmm. Most likely flown although possibly shipped.
I know same fruit grown locally through hydroponics has high carbon emissions due to fertilizer production.
Not convinced with statement without something more.
@b_cavello
Not really as article is about food types so the analogy I provided is equally relevant.
It's not so easy for things like winter fruit unless don't consume any as if global supply chains don't exist-equally relevant, ultimately, I guess...
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