What does it mean to be a carbon-neutral food?
In recent years, there has been a growing concern about the environmental impact of food production and its contribution to climate change. As a result, the concept of carbon neutrality has gained significant attention. As the first carbon-neutral food company in the U.S., we’re working every day to find solutions, but it’s a complex problem. We’d like to help break it down for you and explore what carbon neutral products are, how they’re made, and how we can all lower the carbon impact of food production.
What is a carbon neutral product?
For a product to be considered carbon neutral, its carbon footprint must be completely neutralized, so that there is no net increase in CO2 equivalents. This means that the greenhouse gas emissions produced during its production, transportation, and use are balanced or offset by measures that remove or reduce an equivalent amount of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. The aim is to minimize or eliminate the product's contribution to climate change.
What is carbon neutral food?
Carbon neutral foods, including dairy, encompass agricultural products that have achieved carbon neutrality in their production processes. This involves implementing sustainable practices that reduce emissions, as well as offsetting any remaining emissions through activities like investing in renewable energy generated from on-farm waste streams. Neutral works with dairy farmers every day to help adopt such measures and mitigate climate impact on their farms.
How is carbon neutral food produced?
The journey towards carbon neutral food production involves three key steps: Measure, Reduce, and Offset.
Measuring
First is Measuring. Conducting what is known as a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) helps identify the sources of emissions. For dairy, this includes everything from crop inputs like fertilizer, to feed production on the farm, to delivery to the store, to refrigeration when you bring a carton home, and even the impact of recycling the carton after use.
Some companies only assess a limited portion of their supply chain, but a complete LCA measures the full impact of the product, not just a smaller piece. As pioneers in carbon neutral foods, it is critical for responsible companies like Neutral to ensure they’re measuring the complete life cycle, and not skipping important pieces like bottling, transportation, or disposal of the cartons. By knowing where greenhouse emissions occur, you can start to reduce them.
Reduction
The second step in producing carbon neutral foods is Reduction. Implementing sustainable farming practices, such as improved feed options to reduce enteric methane (yep, those burps and farts have a big impact), cover crops, efficient water and fertilizer use, manure management, and renewable energy adoption can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Offsetting
Third is Offsetting. To offset any remaining emissions, food producers can invest in projects that remove or reduce an equivalent amount of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. These projects may include reforestation, afforestation, or renewable energy initiatives. Neutral invests in high-quality, Climate Action Reserve-verified offsets from dairy farmers who produce green energy on their farms. This ensures that the reductions are audited and permanent.
What foods have the lowest carbon footprint?
Certain foods have lower starting carbon footprints than others, but it’s also important to consider the actual nutrition received from each food source. For example, it is possible for a can of soda to have a lower carbon footprint than a glass of milk, but comparing them only on the basis of emissions would lose sight of a really important factor, namely nutrition. But generally, choosing lower carbon footprint options can help limit the impact of climate change.
Some of the products that tend to have lower starting carbon footprints include:
In-season foods: Opting for seasonal produce reduces the energy required for artificial cultivation, shipping, and refrigeration.
Plants: Fruits, vegetables, legumes, and grains often have lower carbon footprints than animal-based products. Mushrooms are fungi and not plants, but they also tend to have lower carbon footprints.
Local: Choosing locally sourced foods can reduce transportation emissions associated with long-distance shipping.
What are the least carbon-intense meat options?
Certain livestock naturally has a lower carbon footprint than others, and this includes poultry. Chicken and turkey have relatively lower carbon footprints compared to beef and lamb.
Sustainably-raised livestock is another great option. Livestock raised using regenerative agriculture practices, rotational grazing, and feed optimization can help reduce emissions. Look for labels like grass-fed, regenerative, or carbon-neutral certified.
Technology and Implementation for Improved Carbon Impact
Improvements in technology and in farming practices can play a vital role in reducing the carbon impact of food production:
a. Precision Agriculture: Utilizing data-driven techniques, such as remote sensing, IoT devices, and AI, can optimize the use of fertilizer, pesticides and water, and reduce emissions.
b. Renewable Energy Integration: Implementing renewable energy sources, such as solar or wind power, can replace fossil fuel dependency in food production operations.
c. Food Waste Reduction: Innovative technologies can aid in reducing post-harvest losses and food waste, minimizing associated emissions. Also, changing attitudes about things like “ugly” produce and upcycling food byproducts will help reduce food waste.
d. Rotational Grazing and Pasture-based Farming: utilizing climate-smart agricultural practices like rotational grazing can reduce the need for off-farm fertilizers, improve soil health and biodiversity, and decrease soil erosion and run-off.
A Sustainable Future
Transitioning towards carbon neutrality not only benefits the environment but also presents economic opportunities. Consumers are increasingly demanding sustainable and environmentally friendly products, which can create new markets and drive innovation in the food industry.
As individuals, we can contribute to carbon neutrality by making conscious choices in our daily lives. By making smart choices about the type and quantity of products we eat, choosing locally-sourced and seasonal foods, minimizing food waste, and supporting companies that prioritize sustainable practices, we can begin to lower the impact that food production has on the planet.
Achieving carbon neutrality in food production is an essential step in mitigating climate change and ensuring a sustainable future. By understanding the concept, promoting sustainable practices, and embracing technological advancements, we can move towards a food system that minimizes its carbon footprint and contributes to a healthier planet for generations to come. Even small choices, like opting for carbon-neutral milk in your coffee, can make a big difference!