Failing to go the distance: what’s the beef with food miles? | Peter Newton | TEDxBoulder

we buy locally produced food for lots of

we buy locally produced food for lots of reasons

reasons

reasons local food can be fresher healthier

local food can be fresher healthier

local food can be fresher healthier tastier buying directly from producers

tastier buying directly from producers

tastier buying directly from producers can develop trust between farmers and

can develop trust between farmers and

can develop trust between farmers and consumers farmers markets and other

consumers farmers markets and other

consumers farmers markets and other local food outlets can help educators

local food outlets can help educators

local food outlets can help educators promote mindful eating and build

promote mindful eating and build

promote mindful eating and build community and sometimes we just want to

community and sometimes we just want to

community and sometimes we just want to know that the chicken we’re about to eat

know that the chicken we’re about to eat

know that the chicken we’re about to eat had plenty of space and lots of friends

had plenty of space and lots of friends

had plenty of space and lots of friends and then there were food miles we’re all

and then there were food miles we’re all

and then there were food miles we’re all familiar with this concept that locally

familiar with this concept that locally

familiar with this concept that locally produced food has to allow us to travel

produced food has to allow us to travel

produced food has to allow us to travel less distance to reaches and so we

less distance to reaches and so we

less distance to reaches and so we reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the

reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the

reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the fossil fuels used for transportation

fossil fuels used for transportation

fossil fuels used for transportation locally produced food smaller carbon

locally produced food smaller carbon

locally produced food smaller carbon footprint

footprint

footprint food print if you will it’s an

food print if you will it’s an

food print if you will it’s an attractive logic and I frequently hear

attractive logic and I frequently hear

attractive logic and I frequently hear students in my food systems classes

students in my food systems classes

students in my food systems classes argue that to reduce our food prints we

argue that to reduce our food prints we

argue that to reduce our food prints we should all be buying more food that is

should all be buying more food that is

should all be buying more food that is produced near the tours but the food

produced near the tours but the food

produced near the tours but the food miles concept is flawed when we look

miles concept is flawed when we look

miles concept is flawed when we look more closely at the evidence we discover

more closely at the evidence we discover

more closely at the evidence we discover that it’s extremely unlikely that buying

that it’s extremely unlikely that buying

that it’s extremely unlikely that buying food produced Nerva tours will reduce

food produced Nerva tours will reduce

food produced Nerva tours will reduce emissions here’s why greenhouse gases

emissions here’s why greenhouse gases

emissions here’s why greenhouse gases are generated at every stage in a foods

are generated at every stage in a foods

are generated at every stage in a foods lifecycle from transportation yes but

lifecycle from transportation yes but

lifecycle from transportation yes but also from the inputs of seeds

also from the inputs of seeds

also from the inputs of seeds fertilizers and pesticides from on-farm

fertilizers and pesticides from on-farm

fertilizers and pesticides from on-farm production practices like clearing land

production practices like clearing land

production practices like clearing land plowing irrigation and harvesting firm

plowing irrigation and harvesting firm

plowing irrigation and harvesting firm processing and packaging and from the

processing and packaging and from the

processing and packaging and from the situation and storage and only about 4

situation and storage and only about 4

situation and storage and only about 4 percent of these total cradle-to-grave

percent of these total cradle-to-grave

percent of these total cradle-to-grave life cycle emissions come from moving

life cycle emissions come from moving

life cycle emissions come from moving food from the producer to the retailer

food from the producer to the retailer

food from the producer to the retailer and that’s the only part of the whole

and that’s the only part of the whole

and that’s the only part of the whole supply chain the

supply chain the

supply chain the is affected by locally produced food in

is affected by locally produced food in

is affected by locally produced food in contrast about 80 percent of emissions

contrast about 80 percent of emissions

contrast about 80 percent of emissions come from the on-farm production stage

come from the on-farm production stage

come from the on-farm production stage nonetheless four percent of all food

nonetheless four percent of all food

nonetheless four percent of all food system emissions is a lot of carbon when

system emissions is a lot of carbon when

system emissions is a lot of carbon when scaled up over a person’s lifetime or

scaled up over a person’s lifetime or

scaled up over a person’s lifetime or over a society so wouldn’t it be worth

over a society so wouldn’t it be worth

over a society so wouldn’t it be worth reducing those by buying local food well

reducing those by buying local food well

reducing those by buying local food well yes of course all else being equal but

yes of course all else being equal but

yes of course all else being equal but the majority of the time all else is not

the majority of the time all else is not

the majority of the time all else is not equal if producing food locally means

equal if producing food locally means

equal if producing food locally means producing it in places where climate and

producing it in places where climate and

producing it in places where climate and soil are anything other than optimal

soil are anything other than optimal

soil are anything other than optimal then production quickly becomes less

then production quickly becomes less

then production quickly becomes less efficient and more greenhouse gas

efficient and more greenhouse gas

efficient and more greenhouse gas emissions will be generated in

emissions will be generated in

emissions will be generated in compensating for that inefficiency than

compensating for that inefficiency than

compensating for that inefficiency than by reducing than will be saved by

by reducing than will be saved by

by reducing than will be saved by reducing transportation let me give you

reducing transportation let me give you

reducing transportation let me give you a couple of examples both from studies

a couple of examples both from studies

a couple of examples both from studies conducted in the UK tomatoes are grown

conducted in the UK tomatoes are grown

conducted in the UK tomatoes are grown in the UK but for much of the year doing

in the UK but for much of the year doing

in the UK but for much of the year doing so requires heated greenhouses that’s

so requires heated greenhouses that’s

so requires heated greenhouses that’s because the climate there is not

because the climate there is not

because the climate there is not sufficiently warm or sunny England is

sufficiently warm or sunny England is

sufficiently warm or sunny England is not a sunny place trust me I grew up

not a sunny place trust me I grew up

not a sunny place trust me I grew up there

there

there and so for a consumer buying tomatoes in

and so for a consumer buying tomatoes in

and so for a consumer buying tomatoes in the UK the emissions produced by

the UK the emissions produced by

the UK the emissions produced by domestically produced Tomatoes can be up

domestically produced Tomatoes can be up

domestically produced Tomatoes can be up to four times higher than for some grown

to four times higher than for some grown

to four times higher than for some grown tomatoes imported from Spain second

tomatoes imported from Spain second

tomatoes imported from Spain second example producing lamb in New Zealand on

example producing lamb in New Zealand on

example producing lamb in New Zealand on pasture and shipping it all the way

pasture and shipping it all the way

pasture and shipping it all the way around the world to the UK can generate

around the world to the UK can generate

around the world to the UK can generate far higher emission far fewer emissions

far higher emission far fewer emissions

far higher emission far fewer emissions than lamb that is produced in the UK

than lamb that is produced in the UK

than lamb that is produced in the UK that requires supplemental animal feed

that requires supplemental animal feed

that requires supplemental animal feed and these examples are more than norm

and these examples are more than norm

and these examples are more than norm than the exception for most food

than the exception for most food

than the exception for most food products a small handful of regions will

products a small handful of regions will

products a small handful of regions will have optimal growing conditions and will

have optimal growing conditions and will

have optimal growing conditions and will therefore have a comparative advantage

therefore have a comparative advantage

therefore have a comparative advantage in production efficiency it’s possible

in production efficiency it’s possible

in production efficiency it’s possible to grow avocados in Colorado it’s much

to grow avocados in Colorado it’s much

to grow avocados in Colorado it’s much more emissions efficient to grow them in

more emissions efficient to grow them in

more emissions efficient to grow them in California and then transport them and

California and then transport them and

California and then transport them and these Geographic comparative advantages

these Geographic comparative advantages

these Geographic comparative advantages helped explain why the food miles

helped explain why the food miles

helped explain why the food miles concept doesn’t stand up to scrutiny a

concept doesn’t stand up to scrutiny a

concept doesn’t stand up to scrutiny a second part of this is that how far food

second part of this is that how far food

second part of this is that how far food is moved mat is much less than by the

is moved mat is much less than by the

is moved mat is much less than by the mode of transport by which it’s moved

mode of transport by which it’s moved

mode of transport by which it’s moved most commercial food transportation is

most commercial food transportation is

most commercial food transportation is by relatively high-efficiency vehicles

by relatively high-efficiency vehicles

by relatively high-efficiency vehicles thousands of units of food can be

thousands of units of food can be

thousands of units of food can be shipped by a single truck or ship

shipped by a single truck or ship

shipped by a single truck or ship consequently the emissions per unit food

consequently the emissions per unit food

consequently the emissions per unit food can be very small in contrast our

can be very small in contrast our

can be very small in contrast our personal vehicles are incredibly

personal vehicles are incredibly

personal vehicles are incredibly inefficient if thousands of us drive

inefficient if thousands of us drive

inefficient if thousands of us drive even a mile or two to pick up a small

even a mile or two to pick up a small

even a mile or two to pick up a small amount of food the emissions per unit

amount of food the emissions per unit

amount of food the emissions per unit food that we generate may be much higher

food that we generate may be much higher

food that we generate may be much higher so maybe CSA and grocery store delivery

so maybe CSA and grocery store delivery

so maybe CSA and grocery store delivery services have something to offer in this

services have something to offer in this

services have something to offer in this regard this is not an attack on local

regard this is not an attack on local

regard this is not an attack on local food there’s undoubtedly enormous value

food there’s undoubtedly enormous value

food there’s undoubtedly enormous value in developing relationships with the

in developing relationships with the

in developing relationships with the amazing farmers that produce our food

amazing farmers that produce our food

amazing farmers that produce our food and in knowing that Colin the chicken

and in knowing that Colin the chicken

and in knowing that Colin the chicken led a good life so let’s continue buying

led a good life so let’s continue buying

led a good life so let’s continue buying some of our food locally for that and

some of our food locally for that and

some of our food locally for that and other reasons but let’s not fool

other reasons but let’s not fool

other reasons but let’s not fool ourselves that simply reducing the

ourselves that simply reducing the

ourselves that simply reducing the distance between producers and retailers

distance between producers and retailers

distance between producers and retailers an effective way of doing our bit to

an effective way of doing our bit to

an effective way of doing our bit to mitigate climate change but then if we

mitigate climate change but then if we

mitigate climate change but then if we want to fight climate change if we think

want to fight climate change if we think

want to fight climate change if we think that individual behavioral changes are

that individual behavioral changes are

that individual behavioral changes are part of the solution and if we want to

part of the solution and if we want to

part of the solution and if we want to address our emissions from our food

address our emissions from our food

address our emissions from our food choices in particular other choices we

choices in particular other choices we

choices in particular other choices we can make that would help absolutely the

can make that would help absolutely the

can make that would help absolutely the data consistently show that dramatically

data consistently show that dramatically

data consistently show that dramatically reducing of eliminating our consumption

reducing of eliminating our consumption

reducing of eliminating our consumption of animal products would vastly reduce

of animal products would vastly reduce

of animal products would vastly reduce emissions from the food system compared

emissions from the food system compared

emissions from the food system compared side-by-side all animal products

side-by-side all animal products

side-by-side all animal products generates higher emissions per kilogram

generates higher emissions per kilogram

generates higher emissions per kilogram of product than do plant proteins but

of product than do plant proteins but

of product than do plant proteins but not all animal products are equal or as

not all animal products are equal or as

not all animal products are equal or as on George Orwell’s farm some animal

on George Orwell’s farm some animal

on George Orwell’s farm some animal products are more equal than others and

products are more equal than others and

products are more equal than others and specifically from an emissions

specifically from an emissions

specifically from an emissions perspective cattle and sheep products a

perspective cattle and sheep products a

perspective cattle and sheep products a much worse than other animal products

much worse than other animal products

much worse than other animal products and that’s because cows and cheaper

and that’s because cows and cheaper

and that’s because cows and cheaper ruminants their digestive systems

ruminants their digestive systems

ruminants their digestive systems generate enormous volumes of methane in

generate enormous volumes of methane in

generate enormous volumes of methane in a process called enteric fermentation

a process called enteric fermentation

a process called enteric fermentation put more simply cow burps are really bad

put more simply cow burps are really bad

put more simply cow burps are really bad for the climate and so perhaps

for the climate and so perhaps

for the climate and so perhaps surprisingly this and other meta

surprisingly this and other meta

surprisingly this and other meta analyses of multiple independent

analyses of multiple independent

analyses of multiple independent lifecycle analysis show that the

lifecycle analysis show that the

lifecycle analysis show that the production of extensively grazed

production of extensively grazed

production of extensively grazed grass-fed beef can generate much higher

grass-fed beef can generate much higher

grass-fed beef can generate much higher emissions than intensively raised

emissions than intensively raised

emissions than intensively raised feedlot beef that’s for at least two

feedlot beef that’s for at least two

feedlot beef that’s for at least two reasons first grass-fed cows take longer

reasons first grass-fed cows take longer

reasons first grass-fed cows take longer to reach slaughter weight so they’re

to reach slaughter weight so they’re

to reach slaughter weight so they’re alive for longer and belch out more

alive for longer and belch out more

alive for longer and belch out more methane second grass-fed systems require

methane second grass-fed systems require

methane second grass-fed systems require much more space in many parts of the

much more space in many parts of the

much more space in many parts of the world this means clearing natural

world this means clearing natural

world this means clearing natural vegetation to create pasture land in the

vegetation to create pasture land in the

vegetation to create pasture land in the Brazilian Amazon where I do most of my

Brazilian Amazon where I do most of my

Brazilian Amazon where I do most of my research

research

research the creation of cattle pasture is the

the creation of cattle pasture is the

the creation of cattle pasture is the leading cause of deforestation chopping

leading cause of deforestation chopping

leading cause of deforestation chopping down forests releases vast quantities of

down forests releases vast quantities of

down forests releases vast quantities of carbon dioxide it also removes habitats

carbon dioxide it also removes habitats

carbon dioxide it also removes habitats that are critical for other species to

that are critical for other species to

that are critical for other species to survive so you may not be concerned

survive so you may not be concerned

survive so you may not be concerned about climate change or you may be

about climate change or you may be

about climate change or you may be concerned but think that food choices

concerned but think that food choices

concerned but think that food choices are not the way that you want to address

are not the way that you want to address

are not the way that you want to address your personal carbon footprint and there

your personal carbon footprint and there

your personal carbon footprint and there may be some rationale in that a recent

may be some rationale in that a recent

may be some rationale in that a recent study suggested that the individual

study suggested that the individual

study suggested that the individual actions that are most likely to have the

actions that are most likely to have the

actions that are most likely to have the greatest impact on climate change

greatest impact on climate change

greatest impact on climate change mitigation are having one less child

mitigation are having one less child

mitigation are having one less child flying less and making greener personal

flying less and making greener personal

flying less and making greener personal vehicle choices but eating a plant-based

vehicle choices but eating a plant-based

vehicle choices but eating a plant-based diet is next on that list and there’s a

diet is next on that list and there’s a

diet is next on that list and there’s a critical distinction between some of

critical distinction between some of

critical distinction between some of these behaviors we will all at most only

these behaviors we will all at most only

these behaviors we will all at most only ever make a handful of decisions about

ever make a handful of decisions about

ever make a handful of decisions about how many children to have and decisions

how many children to have and decisions

how many children to have and decisions about what car to drive maybe every

about what car to drive maybe every

about what car to drive maybe every decade or so in contrast we make food

decade or so in contrast we make food

decade or so in contrast we make food choices every single day adopting a more

choices every single day adopting a more

choices every single day adopting a more plant-based diet or very least one that

plant-based diet or very least one that

plant-based diet or very least one that dramatically cuts back on cow and sheep

dramatically cuts back on cow and sheep

dramatically cuts back on cow and sheep products including both meat and dairy

products including both meat and dairy

products including both meat and dairy is probably the single biggest immediate

is probably the single biggest immediate

is probably the single biggest immediate action that most of us can take to

action that most of us can take to

action that most of us can take to reduce greenhouse gas emissions we all

reduce greenhouse gas emissions we all

reduce greenhouse gas emissions we all have the opportunity to walk out of here

have the opportunity to walk out of here

have the opportunity to walk out of here tonight and choose to reduce our carbon

tonight and choose to reduce our carbon

tonight and choose to reduce our carbon footprint

footprint

footprint [Applause]