Global food-miles account for nearly 20% of total food-systems emissions

Li, Mengyu; Jia, Nanfei; Lenzen, Manfred; Malik, Arunima; Wei, Liyuan; Jin, Yutong; Raubenheimer, David

doi:10.1038/s43016-022-00531-w

Cited by 121 publications

(73 citation statements)

References 45 publications

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“…Although achieving complete food self-su ciency is not always promising, it is noteworthy that local agriculture is not a total solution to feed cities, but should be considered complementary to other sources of food supply 44 and an approach to reduce food mile emissions 45 . Especially for cities in the global south and developing countries, local food production deserves further exploration for food security.…”

Section: Directions On Green Roof Practices In Different Citiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

A method to analyze the food-water-energy nexus for data-sparse cities: A comparison of green roofs in São José dos Campos, Brazil and Johannesburg, South Africa

Meng

Yuan²,

Bellezoni

et al. 2022

Preprint

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Green roofs have gained relevance in urban sustainability and affect the urban food-water-energy nexus in cities in many different ways. However, it remains unknown regarding systemically quantifying the trade-offs of green roofs on urban food-water-energy nexus. Most city-scale research is restricted to a silo lens (e.g., life cycle impacts and food-water-energy related benefits) while research focusing on green roof’s multiple trade-offs occurs at smaller scales (e.g., neighborhood). Here we developed a generalizable integrated methodology framework for data-sparse cities to analyze the food-water-energy nexus of green roofs from an urban system perspective and tested the framework in two global south cities, São José dos Campos, Brazil and Johannesburg, South Africa. We find São José dos Campos could reach its total self-sufficiency of vegetables in prospect by green roof farming, whereas its life cycle energy consumption would achieve 45% of urban energy demand in the worst scenario. Fueled by the scheme of rainwater substitution, 96% of the life cycle water consumption in São José dos Campos rushed to the infrastructure stage from the operation stage. Johannesburg had potential to satisfy 73% of urban vegetable self-sufficiency and contribute 8% to the city’s alternative water supply goal by rainwater harvesting. Local food supplies are cardinal drivers of trans-boundary water footprints beyond the cities of both São José dos Campos and Johannesburg. We highlight the necessity to balance the trade-offs of green roofs orienting urban food-water-energy goals and call for opportunities for green roof practice in cities.

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Section: Directions On Green Roof Practices In Different Citiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

A method to analyze the food-water-energy nexus for data-sparse cities: A comparison of green roofs in São José dos Campos, Brazil and Johannesburg, South Africa

Meng

Yuan²,

Bellezoni

et al. 2022

Preprint

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“…The CRM project seeks to promote local agroecological production. This, in turn, can potentially improve short commercialization chains, thus reducing the environmental and economic impact of the city's agri-food system [54,55] and promoting the food sovereignty of Xochimilco and the city [56,57]. Articulating with alternative markets is still incipient, and requires strong local social organization.…”

Section: Social Organization In Favor Of Traditional Agriculturementioning

confidence: 99%

Integrating Agroecological Food Production, Ecological Restoration, Peasants’ Wellbeing, and Agri-Food Biocultural Heritage in Xochimilco, Mexico City

Figueroa

Puente-Uribe²,

Arteaga-Ledesma

et al. 2022

Sustainability

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Chinampería, a jeopardized precolonial agricultural practice, persists in the Xochimilco wetland, Mexico City. Agroecological chinampa production is a recognized UNESCO World Heritage Site, and contributes to the sustainability of both the urban wetland and the city. The ‘chinampa-refuge’ model (CRM) is a transdisciplinary effort to strengthen traditional agroecological practices and ecological restoration. Through an inter/transdisciplinary research framework, we addressed the model’s role in the sustainability of this socio-ecosystem concerning four significant drivers of the wetland’s transformation. The CRM has improved water quality locally, increased the suitable habitat for native aquatic biodiversity, and supported traditional agroecological practices, thus improving the quality and safety of food products. However, there are clear challenges regarding production and commercialization, some of which may be addressed through the strengthening of the social organization and collective action. However, other challenges are beyond the reach of chinampa producers’ efforts and the CRM, but are decisive in changing the degradation trends. In order to address these challenges, urgent and participatory government actions are needed based on the recognition of the causes of wetland degradation and the role of traditional chinampa production in its sustainability.

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“…However, it is important to note that the transition towards an upgraded bioeconomy might be especially challenging in some sectors, such as aviation, shipping, and long-distance trucking, which are responsible for around 20% of all GHG emissions from global food systems (Li et al, 2022). Adopting advanced biofuels to reduce emissions in these sectors would be contingent upon large cost reductions to ensure that these biofuels are competitive with fossil fuels.…”

Section: The Process Of Bioeconomy Upgradingmentioning

confidence: 99%