What we eat
The Issue
Most of the energy we consume, and therefore the carbon we emit, comes from the production and distribution of the food we eat.
10 calories of oil are typically consumed to produce one calorie of food including chemical fertilizers, pesticides, transport and packaging
Many of the products we buy in supermarkets have traveled thousands of miles to reach the shelves.
6.9million tones of food were consumed in London in 2000, of which 81% was imported from outside the UK.
The Solution
Buy organic – A recent UK Government study found organic farms use 50% less energy than non-organic farms to produce the same amount of food. Just adding fertiliser to the land releases nitrous oxide. Fertilisers also make the soil more acidic, so farmers add lime to counter-balance this. This produces carbon dioxide. Fertilisers suppress soil micro-organisms which actually help to prevent methane from escaping into the atmosphere. Organic farming actively encourages soil micro-organisms, which reduces emissions. Soil stores carbon. The more carbon it stores, the less carbon dioxide there is in the atmosphere adding to global warming. Poor land management leads to carbon dioxide being released into the atmosphere from the soil. Organic farmers apply organic matter to the soil. This increases the carbon in the soil and reduces carbon dioxide emissions.
Buy locally – Food is travelling further than ever before, often hundreds of miles from where it was produced. Family farms, local abattoirs, processing plants, local food distribution systems and small shops are all disappearing, unable to compete in today’s global market. Cut down on air miles, the least environmentally-friendly form of transport. Cut the distance your food has traveled, buy local if you can. Demand local sourcing of produce in your supermarket. Support your local farmers market.
Grow your own - Allotments and community gardens are other ways of ensuring a supply of locally grown food. Growing organically not only beautify your community, the ensure you get the nutrition you need, taste good, save you money, project the land for future generations, prevent soil erosion, protect water quality, save energy, keep chemicals off your plate and promote biodiversity.
Buy less - Approximately 6 million tonnes of food is thrown away by households in the UK each year, which equates to an average of £424 per person per year. A large part of this food is edible and is merely perceived to have exceeded its useable life or is actually no longer fit for consumption.
Eat less meat – A plant-based diet uses substantially less energy than a diet based on animal products. This energy is virtually all derived from fossil fuels, making meat and dairy consumption a contributing factor in climate change. Meat eating is responsible for at least a third of all biological methane emissions. A vegetable rich diet is also a healthy diet so why not try and eat more vegetarian meals each week.
What you can do
Subscribe to an organic veg box scheme.
Boxes full of seasonal, freshly picked produce are delivered straight to your door
www.abel-cole.co.uk - 08452 62 62 62
www.farmaround.co.uk - 020 7627 8066
www.riverford.co.uk - 01803 762720
Shop locally and support your local specialist shops.
Visit the Wimbledon farmers’ market every Saturday morning from 9am to 12pm in Wimbledon Park First School, Havana Road.
Get an allotment.
Merton Council 8545 3677
Organic gardening tips
www.gardenorganic.org.uk
Buy only what you really need
Meat free recipes
www.vegsoc.org/cordonvert/recipes/
www.vegansociety.com/html/food/recipes/
free booklet – ‘Food for Thought’
0161 925 2000
