Mediterranean countries' food consumption and sourcing patterns:An Ecological Footprint viewpoint

• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.10.191
• Publication Date: 2016-11-10T03:30:21Z
• Authors: Alessandro Galli; Katsunori Iha; Martin Halle; Hamid El Bilali; Nicole Grunewald; Derek Eaton; Roberto Capone; Philipp Debs; Francesco Bottalico
• Keywords: Footprint; Consumption

Securing food for growing populations while minimizing environmental externalities is becoming a key topic in the current sustainability debate. This particularly true Mediterranean region, which characterized by scarce natural resources and increasing climate-related impacts. paper focuses on pressure people place Earth ecosystems because of their consumption sourcing patterns then explores ways such can be reduced. To do so, it uses an Ecological-Footprint-Extended Multi-Regional Input-Output (EF-MRIO) approach applied to 15 countries. Results indicate that substantial driver region's ecological deficit, whereby demand renewable services outpaces capacity its provide them. Portugal, Malta Greece are found have highest per capita Footprints (1.50, 1.25 1.22 global hectares (gha), respectively), Slovenia, Egypt Israel lowest (0.63, 0.64 0.79 gha, respectively). With exception France, all countries rely biocapacity foreign satisfy residents' food. By analyzing effect shifting calorie-adequate diet or changing dietary patterns, we finally point out Ecological Footprint – therefore deficit could reduced 8% 10%.