Whether you like it or not, eating has a higher carbon footprint than you might think on greenhouse emissions. Beyond the plastics required to store and package goods, the manufacturing of beef and dairy products emits a significant amount of CO2 (a greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide). And by trapping heat in the atmosphere, rising CO2 emissions still have an effect on the world.
Since a diet heavy in meat and dairy products contributes to climate change, switching to a plant-based diet can assist.
But how do chicken and beef differ from one another? Does a bowl of rice emit more greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming than a plate of chips? Does wine have a better environmental record than beer?
To find out the climate impact of what you eat and drink, it is recommended to use a food carbon footprint calculator. Keep reading along.
What’s the Carbon Footprint of Meat?
One of the most damaging agricultural practises in the world to the environment is the raising of cattle for food. To be more specific, the typical cow consumes 780 lbs. of air-dried grass or around 680 lbs. of dry matter fodder per day. Typically, “forage” includes:
- Maize
- Sorghum
- Rye
- Oats
- Melilotus
Researchers have hypothesised that the area set aside by a farmer for annual fodder growth affects their emissions per hectare.
In general, farms with “low/moderate” annual fodder crop land usage emit 18.28 kg CO2e for every kilogramme of live weight (LW; the cow’s total body weight) sold. However, farmers who don’t plant these crops on any of their land or only allocate a “very modest” amount of space to them produce 21.29 kg CO2e for every kilogramme of LW sold.
Remember that these figures only represent the amount of carbon dioxide produced into the atmosphere per kilogramme of the animal’s weight. Remember that the agriculture sector contributes to a variety of greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide being just one of them. Beef cattle produce 70% of the world’s methane (CH4), which has an impact 86 times greater than that of carbon dioxide.
TIPS TO REDUCE FOOD’S CARBON FOOTPRINT:
Bring Back Home-Cooking
Take charge of your diet by focusing on natural foods like beans, lentils, whole grains, vegetables, fruits, and meat and fish in moderation:
- learn the simple joys of cooking and eating your own food.
- For a variety of delicious recipes, try vegetarian recipes.
- Learn more about improving your family’s health.
- Prepare your meals in advance to minimise waste
- If you can, keep your leftovers and turn them into a new meal. You may even produce your own compost from uncooked vegetable scraps.
Eat Organic
The environmental effect of organic farming techniques for both crops and livestock is far lower than that of conventional techniques. Organically certified farms are required to apply natural weed prevention, pest control, and soil fertilisation techniques. Food animals cannot be raised with antibiotics or growth hormones, and there are standards of care that prohibit the abuse of livestock. Since these processes have not been shown to be safe for us or the food chain, they cannot be classified as organic and should not be consumed.
You’re better off eating organic food and using a carbon footprint food calculator, too! Nutrient-rich healthy soils are used to grow crops, and these nutrients eventually find their way into your food and into your body. Instead of being forced-fed grain, livestock are free to roam the pastures and eat their natural diet of grass. And this results in meat that is significantly less fatty, keeping your heart healthy.
