Contrasted greenhouse gas emissions from local versus long-range tomato production

• DOI: 10.1007/s13593-013-0171-8
• Publication Date: 2013-08-15T17:05:00Z
• Authors: Michaela Clarissa...; Helmut Haberl; Karl-Heinz Erb; Thomas Lindenthal
• Keywords: Carbon Footprint

Transport from regional production requires less fossil fuel and thus produces lower greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, policies fostering the of goods support rural development. Tomato consumption has increased fast in Europe over last decade. Intensive techniques such as heated greenhouses long-distance transport overcome seasonal constraints order to provide year-round fresh goods. However, studies that evaluate off-season are scarce. Here, we analyzed carbon footprint tomato systems Austria, Spain, Italy using a life cycle approach. We collected data four main supply chains ending at point sale an average Austrian supermarket. aimed identify hotspots emissions agricultural production, heating, packaging, processing, transport. Our results show imported tomatoes Spain have two times than those produced Austria capital-intensive systems. On contrary, were found 3.7 4.7 higher comparison less-intensive organic Austria. Therefore, highly depend on system prevalence or absence heating.