Sustainable Food Transportation
Sustainable Food Transportation
Hey! I'm Ashvika. Did you guys know that your food has traveled hundreds and hundreds of miles? Well I am pretty sure you didn't know about it. But no need to hesitate cause here I am about to tell you more about it.
These days we get all the things from all around the world no matter how far it is for example, we get apples from Kazakhstan, parmesan cheese from Italy, onions from Iran and so on, but have you ever noticed how they reach to supermarkets and grocery stores.We all see trucks on roads right, but did you know that most of them are food trucks.Even planes carry food supplies.So we get food supplies through trucks ,planes.etc but is it healthy for us and the environment.
The advantages of Food Transportation
Before we get to the disadvantages let's check out the advantages.Well there are things that we only get at certain places for example,if we need salt from the sea we can't go to the nearby sea and collect the seasalt by ourselves, if we need to make fresh vegetable salad we need fresh vegetables from its origins as those places will have suitable climate and soil for vegetables and other things to grow.So that is why we need things from everywhere in the grocery stores.
The disadvantages of Food Transportation
Even though there are many advantages for food transportation there are disadvantages too. Because of food transportation many accidents occur and they require a lot of fuel.But the main problem is air pollution.Most of the food are carried by trucks, so air pollution is a big problem.The next problem is water pollution.As we all know ships also carry food. They are called refrigerated cargo ships.And water pollution comes from ships. But you might be thinking why is water pollution and air pollution a big problem for food transportation, well, lots of fruits and vegetables are wasted before they reach the destination. So let's study more about water air pollution.
Air pollution is caused by both trucks and planes.So let's first talk about trucks.Burning fossil fuels like gasoline and diesel releases carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, into the atmosphere. The buildup of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases like methane , nitrous oxide, Burning fossil fuels like gasoline and diesel releases carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, into the atmosphere. The buildup of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases like methane, nitrous oxide, and hydrofluorocarbons is causing the Earth’s atmosphere to warm, resulting in changes to the climate we are already starting to see in the environment. Now let's move on to the air pollution caused by planes.Planes are one of the most polluting transportation vehicles.Airplanes burn fossil fuel which not only releases CO2 (carbon dioxide)emissions but also has strong warming non-CO2 effects due to nitrogen oxides (NOx), vapour trails and cloud formation triggered by the altitude at which aircraft operate.This really dangerous for our health and environment.EPA reports that commercial airplanes and large business jets contribute 10 percent of U.S. transportation emissions, and account for three percent of the nation's total greenhouse gas (GHG) production.
We all know that water pollution is mainly caused by ships and boats.There are many reasons how oceans are polluted.But out of them all the main reason is dumping waste in the ocean.Littering is another important source of water contamination. Dumping solid trash such as plastics, cardboard, and Styrofoam contaminates water and renders it unfit for human consumption. The dumping of solid trash in large quantities clogs water bodies and causes pollution.Cruise ships also dump: Solid Waste – paper, food waste, glass, plastic, etc. Oily bilge water – water mixed with oily fluids such as grease and lubricants and other wastes that accumulate from sources like the engine and other mechanical sources.It not only harms us and the water it also harms the marine species. Worldwide, hundreds of marine species have been negatively impacted by marine debris, which can harm or kill an animal when it is ingested or they become entangled, and can threaten the habitats they depend on.Shipping also contributes to climate change through emissions of Black Carbon, tiny black particles, produced by combustion of marine fuel. The highest amounts of black carbon particles are produced by ships burning heavy fuel oil.But that's not all, people accidentally throw half of the food with the fuels.So a lot of food will be wasted.And in the remaining half will be stale before they reach their destination. So now you understand how much of a big problem it is.
We all need to know what disadvantages are, so why don't you use a bit more time to check out the sollutions as it won't give any harm to you.So the sollutions I have are:
Legislations
Under pressure from industry lobbying the national government has not introduced a carbon tax on CO2 producers. That measure alone would begin to reduce food miles. Road user charging would make the food processing industry think very carefully about their transport needs. The national government has set a target of a reduction of food miles in Britain by 20 per cent by 2012. The recent Defra report estimates costs of food miles at £9 billion each year, half of which is down to road congestion.
Local and Seasonally
We know that we can't cook without fresh vegetableBy choosing locally grown produce, you can drastically cut the food miles that you consume. Additionally, buying produce that is in season increases the chances that it is grown closer to home. To reduce the food mile impact even further, consider starting your own garden in your backyard. By growing your own produce, you can cut the food miles from more than 1000 miles down to a couple yards. Also, you will have more control over the chemicals and pesticides that are on your food and can eat healthier overall.If growing your own fruits and vegetables is not an option, consider supporting the local farmers in your area instead. You can often purchase fresh fruits and vegetables from farmers’ markets and roadside stands. In addition to reducing your food mileage by purchasing locally grown produce, you will often notice a significant increase in the quality of the fruits and vegetables purchased locally.Reducing your food mileage consumption, even by a little bit, can have a large impact on the environment. If everyone chose to purchase locally grown food instead of imported food, there would be a significant drop in greenhouse gasses emitted and overall oil consumption due to food transportation. Even a small change can help the environment.
Think About Transport Methods
It is not just the distance that a foodstuff travels that impacts upon its food miles; it is also the method of transportation. As a general rule, you should try to limit your consumption of foods that have been transported by air the most, as these are typically moved in this way as they perish quickly and have to get from producer to market as soon as possible. Long truck journeys are also significant additions to food miles as they use a lot of resources to move comparatively little product. Sea travel is arguably the most efficient and ‘green’ form of food transportation, as a lot of goods can be transported in one go, making for smaller carbon expenditure. However, this is a guideline only, as the transportation methods may be offset by the energy costs of the product’s production.
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