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Food production and the planet -

When it comes to greenhouse gas emissions, it is no great secret that food production is partly to blame.

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Harmful production processes -

From tractors burning fuel to manufacturing fertilizers, there are plenty of processes involved in food production that emit greenhouse gases.

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Statistics -

In fact, it is estimated that food production is responsible for one quarter of the total greenhouse gases emitted by humans.

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Carbon-negative foods -

There are, however, some foods that are considered carbon-negative. That is to say, they remove more greenhouse gases than they emit.

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Carbon-negative foods -

By producing and consuming more of these foods, we can help reduce the carbon footprint of food production and, in some cases, help restore ecosystems.

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Kelp - Kelp is one plant that, until now, has not received much attention as a food. However, it is edible, and growing it is a great way to sequester carbon.

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Kelp -

This is because as kelp grows, it takes in CO2. Part of the plant then breaks off and falls to the ocean floor, where some of the carbon is stored.

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Kelp -

Kelp therefore has the potential to be a carbon-negative food. In order for this to be the case, however, the supply chain must be very efficient, with minimal transport, packaging, and processing.

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Blueberries, cranberries, and celery -

Foods grown on wetted peatlands, such as blueberries, cranberries, and celery, also have the potential to be carbon-negative.

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Blueberries, cranberries, and celery -

Currently, however, this is not usually the case. Blueberries, for example, are often packaged in plastic and flown around the world, which of course means they are very carbon-positive.

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Blueberries, cranberries, and celery -

Although they are rare and difficult to identify, plants grown on wetted peatlands do exist. Their availability is expected to increase in the years to come.

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Nuts, olives, and citrus fruits -

Next up we have foods that grow on trees, such as nuts, olives, and citrus fruits. These tend to be carbon-negative, because planting trees on cropland stores carbon.

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Nuts, olives, and citrus fruits -

In fact, the typical nut product that you buy in stores today will remove around 1.3 kg of CO2 per kilogram.

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Nuts, olives, and citrus fruits -

If the trees that grow these foods are used to make long-lasting wood products once they reach the end of their life cycle, the carbon they store will remain stored for even longer.

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Regeneratively farmed foods -

Finally we have regeneratively farmed foods. These are foods that are farmed using regenerative practices, such as not tilling the soil or planting hedgerows.

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Regeneratively farmed foods -

Using regenerative farming practices can help increase the amount of carbon stored in soil or vegetation. Some farms claim to have already made their products carbon-negative using these processes.

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Regeneratively farmed foods -

For example, British regenerative farming firm Wildfarmed reports that for each kilogram of wheat produced by its growers, 1.5 kg of CO2 is removed from the atmosphere.

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Caveat -

According to research, however, regenerative farming practices are unlikely to help farmers achieve carbon negativity when it comes to high-emission foods, such as beef.

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The problem with labeling - Today, it is still very difficult to identify carbon-negative foods. However, that is set to change in the near future.

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The problem with labeling -

In countries all over the world, robust carbon monitoring and labeling schemes that account for the whole lifecycle of a product are being rolled out.

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The problem with labeling -

Once these are in place and are properly backed by regulation, they should make it easier for non-experts to identify carbon-negative foods.

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In the meantime - In the meantime, there are other steps that you can take to help achieve a more carbon-neutral diet. The first is to eat less meat and dairy.

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Eat less meat and dairy -

Meat and dairy products have a particularly high carbon footprint due to the methane emissions of the livestock. Reducing your consumption can help lower the carbon footprint of your diet.

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Eat locally -

It is also a good idea to source your food locally, wherever possible. Of course, the priority should be consuming a balanced diet all year round.

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Eat locally -

However, it is best to get your food from local suppliers wherever possible, since this reduces emissions from long-distance transportation and storage.

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Minimize food waste -

Another way to reduce the carbon footprint of your diet is to minimize food waste. Of course, minimizing waste is important as a rule of thumb.

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Minimize food waste - In the case of food waste, however, it is particularly important, because food waste contributes to greenhouse gas emissions as it decomposes in landfill.

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Grow your own produce -

Last but not least, it is a good idea to grow your own produce. Not only is this fun, but it's also a great way to reduce the carbon footprint of the food you eat.

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Grow your own produce -

By growing your own fruits and vegetables, you eliminate the need for packaging and long-distance transportation.

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Final thoughts -

Implementing at least some of these strategies can help make your diet more carbon-neutral, while we wait for carbon-negative foods to become more readily available.

Sources: (BBC)

See also: The diets with the biggest and smallest carbon footprints

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