Cooking up a Storm | Food Climate Research Network

This newly published FCRN report sets out what we know about the food system's contribution to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Taking a life cycle perspective, it looks at how these emissions arise, both by life cycle stage (from plough to plate to bin) and by food type. It then explores the flip side of the coin: the global impact of a changing climate on how we grow, distribute, produce and consume food. We follow this with a discussion of the strengths and weaknesses of and challenges for the life cycle analysis methodology upon which the report has drawn.

The next part of the study explores the mitigation options. We look both at what food GHG reductions might be achieved through the use of cleaner technologies and better management and at what changes in behaviour are needed. Arguing that both are essential, we very approximately calculate what level of food emission reductions could be achieved through a combination of technological and behavioural change.

Source: Food Climate Research Network

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