Under Construction  This page is in the early stages of development. We use "cost" here to refer to both the financial ($) cost and environmental cost (greenhouse gas, pollution, non-renewable resource depletion ...)
* Greenhouse gas (GHG) contribution and non-renewable resource depletion from the food chainFarmers markets:There is a lot of talk about buying local to save transportation contribution to GHGs. Food trucked 2,000 miles uses about a gallon of fuel per 150 pounds of food. If you traveled 15 miles one way to a farmer's market in a car that got 30 MPG you would have to buy 150 pounds of food to be worthwhile in GHG savings. However there are other advantages in freshness, supporting the local economy, cost of packaging, etc. to using farmer's markets.
Replacing meat with vegetables: According to the British group Vegfam, a 10-acre farm can support 60 people growing soybeans, 24 people growing wheat, 10 people growing corn and only two producing cattle. * Biodiversity costsBy-catch - Un-targeted fish (dolphins, turtles, ...) trapped in nets or longlines while fishing for other species and are often killed.Trawls that are used to catch bottom-dwelling fish like flounder, cod, rockfish and shrimp damage the sea bead. * Environmental damage from farming, fishing, ...Packaging - Both hydrocarbons (oil and energy) in producing the packaging and the disposal of plastics have a negative effect on the environment.
Pollution from pesticide/herbicide runoff from farms. * Health and SafetyEffect of water pollution on seafood safety.Chemicals in farm raised fish. Exposure to livestock drugs. Pesticide and herbicide residue on food. Tainted food (bacteria, ...) from shortcuts taken to improve productivity. Vegetables have less fat and cholesterol.
Books:
Links: Return to Environment
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