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Local food: Difference between revisions
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Some say that local food is better for the environment, because | Some say that local [[food]] is better for the environment, because the food is shipped a shorter distance. But does this really save [[energy]] overall? {{rn}} | ||
==Analysis needed== | |||
''This page is incomplete. It needs:'' | |||
* ''specific'' examples of cases where local food is '''better''' for the environment | |||
* ''specific'' examples of cases where local food is '''worse''' for the environment | |||
* research / data analysis to back up the claims. | |||
==Analysis needed - factors to consider== | |||
===Food transportation footprint=== | ===Food transportation footprint=== | ||
In which cases does local food actually save fuel, and in which cases does it use more? Consider [[economies of scale]] in shipping. | In which cases does local food actually save fuel, and in which cases does it use more? Consider [[economies of scale]] in shipping. | ||
===Food production footprint=== | ===Food production footprint=== | ||
Food ''production'' might have a much bigger ecological footprint than ''transportation''. {{qn}} | |||
In which case, we have to be mindful of tradeoffs. Sometimes, a region might be better{{x|more energy-efficient}}at producing a certain food. Growing it there and shipping it elsewhere, might actually use less energy overall. {{xn}} | |||
===Perishable vs non-perishable foods=== | ===Perishable vs non-perishable foods=== | ||
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===Existing farm land=== | ===Existing farm land=== | ||
We want to use existing farm land, not destroy more forests/habitats just to farm somewhere else. Is the most productive farm land close to where people actually live? | We want to use existing farm land, not destroy more forests/habitats just to farm somewhere else. Is the most productive farm land close to where people actually live? | ||
==Food & population map== | |||
Some areas produce more food. Other areas have more people. Here's a map of food crops (yellow) overlapping with population (blue): | |||
[[File:map-population-foodProduction.png|640px|title=food crop production in yellow, population in blue]] | [[File:map-population-foodProduction.png|640px|title=food crop production in yellow, population in blue]] | ||