Did you know that 1 piece of steak emits as much as growing 25 bananas?
The food industry has become a complex challenge for our environment. According to the World Economic Forum (2016), the food we eat is responsible for a third of the global carbon footprint emitted.
Unsurprisingly, red meat has the highest carbon footprint of all foods. Lamb and beef, in particular, are the most noxious meats because they generate a lot of methane and require great amounts of water. Some studies even claim that the meat and dairy industries are the biggest threat to climate change.
A kilogram of beef is responsible for more greenhouse gas emissions and
other pollution than driving for 3 hours while leaving all the lights on back
home.
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New Scientist, 2007
However, some fruits and vegetables can also have a major impact on the environment. In fact, depending on the time of the year, the location, the climate, and the agricultural practices, the same product can have different effects on the environment.
Tomatoes, in particular, are quite tricky to label. Grown during cold seasons, tomatoes can generate up to 50 times more damage than during summer. Environmentally, it is better to consume local tomatoes grown in season. In the UK, their season generally starts in July and ends in October.
However, it is generally less energy intensive to grow tomatoes from Spain because the climate is warmer and no heating is required.
According to Durham University : ‘Tomatoes grown in the UK are grown in large greenhouses requiring huge amounts of energy for both heating and lighting, which is usually produced by burning oil and gas or by importing electricity from the national grid’.
Food miles are far less harmful than consuming vegetables or fruits out of season. The main contributor to the tomato’s carbon cost is lighting and artificial heating. Therefore, if desired during cold seasons, it is most favourable to get them from warmer climates, such as from Spain or Morocco.
You might be surprised if I told you that growing tomatoes takes a lot more energy than most vegetables. According to Cambridge Carbon Footprint (2012), tomatoes require 17 times the energy of carrots.
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The type of tomato plays an important role too. Cherry and plum tomatoes, for instance, need more heat per kilogram than loose tomatoes, because the yield is so much lower (Berners-Lee, 2010, pp.97-98).
And did you know that organic foods tend to have a bigger impact on the environment than conventional products? This is because organic farming requires more land.
Thus, two identical tomatoes can have a very different impact on the climate. To illustrate this statement, 1 kg of organic loose tomatoes (traditional variety) grown locally (UK) during the summer emits 0.4 kg CO2 e, whereas 1 kg of organic ‘on the vine’ cherry tomatoes grown during the winter (in the UK ) emits a total of 50 kg CO2 e (Berners-Lee, 2010, pp.97-98). This means that, at their worst, tomatoes emit more than a piece of steak; however, at their lowest, they are perfectly fine.
Carbon footprint is a tricky indicator; there are plenty of factors to take into consideration. With the urge to tackle global warming, it is important to be aware of what we eat.
Cherry and plum tomatoes need more heat per kilogram than loose tomatoes because the yield is so much lower.
Producing 100 kg of tomatoes in the UK emits the same amount of CO2 equivalents as does the production of 1 washing machine.
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Horticultural Development Council, 2008
What can I do as an individual?
Eating seasonal food is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint.
The Oddbox delivers misshapen fruits and vegetables that would otherwise get wasted.
Buy seasonal food
Eating seasonally can be hard and can quickly become boring. However, there is also something magical about it. Trust me, you will start being more adventures in the kitchen and try new combinations. For more inspirations visit: https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/category/seasonal
Local is not always better
If you struggle following a seasonal diet and have a big craving for tomatoes during winter, that is okay. We all need a bit of diversity in our plates every so often. But make sure you choose the right tomatoes; get them from a warm destination, such as from Spain or Morocco.
Reduce your overall amount of waste
Every year, 1.3 billion tonnes of food is wasted in the world (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 2019). That represents about one third of all the food produced in a year. And yet, the World Health Organization (WHO) (2018) estimates that 821 million people are fighting hunger. According to the World Counts (2019), by taking into account the total of food waste generated by Europe and the United States, the world could be fed three times over.
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In terms of tomatoes, we throw away 61,300 tonnes of tomatoes every year in the UK (cambridge carbonfootprint, 2012).
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To tackle food waste an organisation called Olio has developed a platform where people can connect with each other to donate their food with their neighbourhood. Whether you are going on holiday and did not have time to empty your fridge or because you cooked too much food last night, Olio puts people together to share their surplus. If you are interested to join Olio visit: https://olioex.com/
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Another inspiring organisation is the Oddbox. This community helps unsold wonky vegetables and fruits to find a place in our plates. Fresh, local and seasonal products will guarantee the best quality for a low price. Do you want to get an Oddbox delivered to your home? Then visit: https://www.oddbox.co.uk/