Comparing the Sustainability of Local and Global Food Chains: A Case Study of Cheese Products in Switzerland and the UK

Schmitt, Emilia; Keech, Daniel; Maye, Damian; Barjolle, Dominique; Kirwan, James

doi:10.3390/su8050419

Cited by 30 publications

(43 citation statements)

References 46 publications

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“…The overall assessment compared the economic, social, ethical, health, and environmental impacts of 39 food supply chains belonging to seven different sectors (apples, berries, bread, cheese, pork, tomatoes, and wine) (see Brunori et al [19] for details). This paper draws on work conducted in Switzerland and the UK for the cheese supply chain case study (see also Schmitt et al [20]). In each country two cheese supply chains were selected, one with 'local' characteristics and one with 'global' characteristics: L'Etivaz (local) and Le Gruyère (global) in Switzerland and Single Gloucester (local) and cheddar (global) in the UK.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In each country two cheese supply chains were selected, one with 'local' characteristics and one with 'global' characteristics: L'Etivaz (local) and Le Gruyère (global) in Switzerland and Single Gloucester (local) and cheddar (global) in the UK. Schmitt et al [20] provide a detailed comparative analysis of the sustainability performance of the four cheeses. In this paper the focus is on comparing one aspect of sustainability performance that was only briefly examined in the overview paper: PDO governance.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Its historical orientation to export markets made the recognition of the original Le Gruyère difficult at the international level and an agreement had to be concluded with French producers in order to allow the registration of a European PGI for French Gruyère as well. Several lawsuits had to be conducted to defend the name, notably in the United States [20,21,24]. Most Le Gruyère is marketed by eight ripeners, who also take a role as wholesalers and exporters.…”

Section: Market Impactmentioning

confidence: 99%

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PDO as a Mechanism for Reterritorialisation and Agri-Food Governance: A Comparative Analysis of Cheese Products in the UK and Switzerland

et al. 2016

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Abstract:The protection of geographical indications (European regulation 1151/2012) is arguably the most significant initiative, certainly within Europe, that promotes foods with territorial associations and reorganises agri-food chain governance through a strategy of reterritorialisation. Research on Protected Designation of Origins (PDOs) and Protected Geographical Indications (PGIs) suggests that they generate significant economic value at an EU-level, especially in certain countries. They can also help to deliver territorial rural development policy and develop new food markets. In this paper we examine the way the PDO scheme has been developed and applied in one commodity sector (cheese) in two countries (Switzerland and the UK), where the uptake of PDOs is variable. We adopt a food chain approach and examine specific cheese product case studies (at micro and meso levels) in both countries to better understand how the PDO scheme (as a territorialisation and respacing strategy) is implemented. L'Etivaz and Le Gruyère are examined in Switzerland. Single Gloucester and West Country cheddar are examined in the UK. The PDO scheme is an important governance strategy and regulatory system, but despite strict guidelines regarding implementation and geographical infrastructure there are notable differences between the UK and Switzerland in terms of how the label is used to organise and respatialise food chains: it is framed as a strategy to protect the rural economy in Switzerland but is promoted more as a mechanism to communicate and reconnect with consumers in the UK.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Market Impactmentioning

confidence: 99%

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PDO as a Mechanism for Reterritorialisation and Agri-Food Governance: A Comparative Analysis of Cheese Products in the UK and Switzerland

et al. 2016

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“…These scores are subjective and not related to a functional unit, as required for life cycle assessment. Only one study considers slaughter conditions (Röös et al 2014) and one study considers the slaughter age (Schmitt et al 2016) in their assessments.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Seven articles assessed animal welfare for a single product type, mostly dairy products (van Asselt et al 2015;Meul et al 2012;Mueller-Lindenlauf et al 2010;Del Prado et al 2011;Schmitt et al 2016;Zucali et al 2016), and once poultry (Castellini et al 2012). Two articles examined multiple products, including meat, eggs, and dairy products (Head et al 2014;Röös et al 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Framework for integrating animal welfare into life cycle sustainability assessment

Scherer

Tomasik²,

Rueda³

et al. 2017

Int J Life Cycle Assess

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Purpose This study seeks to provide a framework for integrating animal welfare as a fourth pillar into a life cycle sustainability assessment and presents three alternative animal welfare indicators. Methods Animal welfare is assessed during farm life and during slaughter. The indicators differ in how they value premature death. All three consider (1) the life quality of an animal such as space allowance, (2) the slaughter age either as life duration or life fraction, and (3) the number of animals affected for providing a product unit, e.g. 1 Mcal. One of the indicators additionally takes into account a moral value denoting their intelligence and self-awareness. The framework allows for comparisons across studies and products and for applications at large spatial scales. To illustrate the framework, eight products were analysed and compared: beef, pork, poultry, milk, eggs, salmon, shrimps, and, as a novel protein source, insects.Results and discussion Insects are granted to live longer fractions of their normal life spans, and their life quality is less compromised due to a lower assumed sentience. Still, they perform worst according to all three indicators, as their small body sizes only yield low product quantities. Therefore, we discourage from eating insects. In contrast, milk is the product that reduces animal welfare the least according to two of the three indicators and it performs relatively better than other animal products in most categories. The difference in animal welfare is mostly larger for different animal products than for different production systems of the same product. This implies that, besides less consumption of animal-based products, a shift to other animal products can significantly improve animal welfare. Conclusions While the animal welfare assessment is simplified, it allows for a direct integration into life cycle sustainability assessment. There is a trade-off between applicability and indicator complexity, but even a simple estimate of animal welfare is much better than ignoring the issue, as is the common practice in life cycle sustainability assessments. Future research should be directed towards elaborating the life quality criterion and extending the product coverage.

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Connecting Local Food and Organic Waste Management Systems: Closing Nutrient Loops in the City of Madrid

Simón‐Rojo

Duží

2017

Socio-Metabolic Perspectives on the Sustainability of Local Food Systems

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Comparing the Sustainability of Local and Global Food Chains: A Case Study of Cheese Products in Switzerland and the UK

Cited by 30 publications

References 46 publications

PDO as a Mechanism for Reterritorialisation and Agri-Food Governance: A Comparative Analysis of Cheese Products in the UK and Switzerland

PDO as a Mechanism for Reterritorialisation and Agri-Food Governance: A Comparative Analysis of Cheese Products in the UK and Switzerland

Framework for integrating animal welfare into life cycle sustainability assessment

Connecting Local Food and Organic Waste Management Systems: Closing Nutrient Loops in the City of Madrid

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