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A brief presentation on the Locavore Movement, what it is, and its impact on the environment. May 2010
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A Look at the Environmental Impacts of the “Locavore Movement”
By Cheryl Gregory
Outline:
1. What is the LocavoreMovement?
2. Some of the Misconceptions
A. Transportation
B. Food Distribution Organization
C. Growth / Production Methods
D. Food Types
E. Globalization of Food Systems
F. Proposed Local Benefits
3. Conclusion
What is a “Locavore”?
Term first coined by Jessica Prentice of San Francisco on the World Environmental Day in 2005
Describes a person who consumes only food grown or produced locally
Usually food is produced less than 100 miles away
Locavore Movement: “A collaborative effort to build more locally based, self-reliant food economies-one in which sustainable food production, processing, distribution, and consumption is integrated to enhance the economic, environmental and social health of a particular place” Gail Feenstra UC Davis
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqlW-pBX-yw&feature=related
“Food Miles”
“Food Miles” is the distance a food product travels from the source of production to the plate of the consumer
Originally the local food movement used the concept of food miles to determine the sustainability of food
Food Miles oversimplify the complex environmental impacts of a food system
Distribution
What is a
Food System?
Production
Processing
Distribution
Storage
Use
Waste
Transportation
Variables
Coordination of Transport
Overall reduction of greenhouse gas emissions
Reduces Gridlock
Mode of Transport
Airplane vs. Cargo-ship vs. Truck vs. Train
Technology Advances
Diesel-Hybrid Engine
Fuel Types
“Just over a ton of goods moved six miles as part of a 22 ton lorry load generates about 14 oz of CO2; moved in 50 cars, each carrying 40 lbs, it generates about 22 oz of CO2” (Woods et al)
Distribution
Theoretical Local System
More Direct
Smaller Warehouses
Less Storage Time
Less Refrigeration
However, decreasing the size of the operation but increasing the number of operations may not actually decrease environmental impact.
Current Distribution Systems
Collaborative Distribution System
Coordination/Sharing of warehouse and transportation systems
Reduces gridlock
Ability to maximize efficiency
Competitive Distribution System
Companies act competitively which may not be in the best interest of the environment
Growth/Production
Theoretical Local System
Reality of Buying Local
Organic vs Inorganic
Overlooks Climate Differences
New Zealand vs United Kingdom
Does not Consider Fertilizer, Pesticide or Herbicide Use
Promote Sustainable Care of the Land
Decrease Mono-cropping
No Barren Fields during Winter Months
Food Type
Key Flaw of the Locavore Movement
The Environmental Impact varies drastically from food type to food type.
Example: Beef has a much higher negative impact than vegetables
Locavores Believe that Local Consumption will cause people to naturally decrease their intake of environmentally damaging foods
Lacks support from research
Haiti is an example of a country which consumed locally produced rice, despite environmental effects, until the land became desert
Globalization
The Locavores ViewReality
Food Miles have increased significantly but:
“Globalization of the food market has only increased greenhouse gas emission by 5%” (Liaw)
Regional Specialization
Crops grown where produced most efficiently
Could Mean Less Pesticide/Herbicide/Fertilizer Use
Proposed Local Benefits
Preservation of Local Food Heritage
Preservation of Local Culture
Economic Freedom from global market fluctuations
“A community which depends upon its human neighbors, neighboring lands, and native species to supply the majority of its needs must ensure
that the social and natural resources it utilizes to fulfill those needs remain healthy.” Kloppenburg
Obstacles in Achieving Proposed Local Benefits
1. Recognition of an Unhealthy Resource
2. Recognition of the Cause of the Unhealthy/Damaged Resource
3. Creating Action or Behavior Change to
A. Prevent Further Damage to Resources
B. Reverse Current Damage to Resources
C. Restore/Improve Resources
Essentially, ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION & ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING is also necessary in order to realize the benefits of consuming locally!!!
Conclusion1. Overlooks Differences in
Transportation
2. Distribution is over-simplified
3. Lack of emphasis on Growth/Production Methods
4. Ignores Differences in Food Type
5. Does not address the obstacles of achieving the proposed local benefits
The Locavore Movement overlooks some key factors of
the food system with huge environmental impacts.
However, with more research and some adjustments to the
Local Food campaigns, particularly environmental
education, a local food economy has the potential to
reduce negative environmental impacts of current food
systems.
Suggestions
Suggested Reading: Michael Pollan´s The Omnivores Dilemma
Try to cut back on animal products, especially beef
Try to buy food that has been produced sustainably, and yes, one of the best ways to be sure is by buying from the person who actually did the producing
Buy Food Seasonally
MICHAEL POLLAN: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFNzabpQ2X0&feature=related
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