The local industrial complex? Questioning the link between local foods and energy use

Abstract

Local food has become the rising star of the sustainable agriculture movement, in part because of the energy efficiencies thought to be gained when food travels shorter distances. In this essay I critique four key assumptions that underlie this connection between local foods and energy. I then describe two competing conclusions implied by the critique. On the one hand, local food systems may need a more extensive and integrated transportation infrastructure to achieve sustainability. On the other hand, the production, transportation, and consumption of local foods are fundamentally as reliant on fossil fuels as are long distance foods. A more holistic approach to energy use in the food system is needed to determine which particular sociotechnical factors optimize energetic sustainability.

La route des paniers

“…Or, si ce dernier défend le potentiel d'illustration de cette notion auprès du consommateur concernant différentes qualités du produit (sa fraîcheur, son goût), il n'entend pas prouver par cet indicateur une moindre dépense énergétique des circuits locaux. En effet, comme le remarquent plusieurs auteurs (Saunders et al, 2006 ;Mila i Canals et al, 2007 ;Mariola, 2008), le nombre de kilomètres parcourus par les aliments ne permet pas de tenir compte du fait que le commerce local met sur les routes quantité de petits véhicules transportant peu de volume et dont le bilan carburant consommé / volume transporté n'est pas forcément bon. Par ailleurs, la distribution locale des produits a autant besoin des infrastructures de transport que la distribution sur longue distance.…”

“…Sur le plan environnemental, les auteurs de nombreux travaux s'interrogent sur la contribution des circuits courts à la réduction de la consommation d'énergie et des émissions de gaz à effet de serre (GES) (Pirog et al, 2001 ;Mariola, 2008 ;Redlingshöfer, 2008). En effet, leur performance varie en fonction des volumes de production, des kilomètres alimentaires parcourus, du trajet de retour à plein ou à vide et du type de carburant utilisé (Redlingshöfer, 2008).…”

AgroEcological Transitions : changes and breakthroughs in the making

“…(see for example Cooley & Lass 1996;Verhaegen & Van Huylenbroeck 2001;Stagl 2002;, Mariola 2008Izumi et al 2010;Kortwright & Wakefield 2011). Among highly diverse conceptualisations, most analysts consider CSAs as important part of alternative food supply chains that strengthen the local economy and preserve agricultural diversity (Hinrichs 2000;DeLind 2002;Stagl 2002;Lyson 2004).…”

Locational Advantage and the Impact of Scale: Comparing Local and Conventional Fruit and Vegetable Transportation Efficiencies

“…Despite longer travel distances and the transportation sector's vulnerability to fuel price volatility, some researchers suggest that economies of scale make the conventional (long distance) production and transportation system of fruits and vegetables more energy-efficient per unit of produce shipped compared to local food distribution networks (Avetisyan, Hertel, & Sampson, 2014;Coley et al, 2009;Mariola, 2008;Saunders, Barber, & Sorenson, 2009;Schlich & Fleissner, 2005). Conventional shipping hauls thousands of pounds of fruits and vegetables in a single semi-truck load, and thus the fuel use per unit of produce shipped is often minimal (Mariola, 2008).…”

“…Conventional shipping hauls thousands of pounds of fruits and vegetables in a single semi-truck load, and thus the fuel use per unit of produce shipped is often minimal (Mariola, 2008). Similarly, Avetisyan et al (2014) and Saunders, Barber, and Taylor (2006) emphasize the importance of considering more than the fuel used during food transportation because the comparative advantage in production in distant locations may outweigh the benefits of lower fuel consumption in a local food distribution system.…”