Where’s the Beef?

By Clara Fishel

June 8, 2008

WorldChanging columnist, Clark Williams-Derry reports here on a recent study from a couple of Carnegie Mellon profs that compares life-cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with food production against food miles.

Summary of the findings: A dietary shift can be a more effective means of lowering an average household’s food-related environmental footprint than “buying local.” Shifting less than one day per week’s worth of calories from red meat and dairy products to chicken, fish, eggs, or a vegetable-based diet achieves more GHG reduction than buying 100% locally sourced food.

Small sacrifice, big impact . . . gotta love that.

Still, all else being equal, local food has a smaller environmental impact than that which comes from a continent away. Plus, buying it supports community food systems AND (my number one reason for buying local) it tastes way better.

Over the next few weeks, I’ll be looking at the Savannah area’s local food scene. Stay Tuned . . .

Posted in Food, Global Warming, Transportation