Skip to main content

How Difficult Is It to Reach Carbon Neutrality? Tales of Different Agri-Food Chains

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Carbon Neutrality in the Agri-food Sector

Abstract

The sixth chapter presents the different actors of the agri-food chain involved in the adoption of carbon neutral/low carbon approaches. Then, the contribution of these actors to climate change and agri-food sector emission has been analysed. Additionally, the chapter covers analysis from the literature on different food chains and how much they emit at different stages of the value chain. Moreover, the chapter presents an analysis of the main actions that the various actors of the supply chain can take to make their activity climate-friendly and therefore reduce the emissions associated with their main assets. Finally, three company case studies have been presented to discuss differences across value chains (fruits, coffee, and meat).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

eBook
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 139.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 139.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Audsley E, Brander M, Chatterton J, Murphy-bokern D, Webster C, Williams A (2009) How low can we go? An assessment of greenhouse gas emissions from the UK food system and the scope to reduce them by 2050. WWF-UK and Food Climate Research Network. https://doi.org/10.1093/bja/aeh529

  • Austgulen MH, Skuland SE, Schjøll A, Alfnes F (2018) Consumer readiness to reduce meat consumption for the purpose of environmental sustainability: insights from Norway. Sustain. https://doi.org/10.3390/su10093058

  • Barilla Center for Food and Nutrition (2016) DoUBLE PYRAMID 2016 Eat better Eat less Food for all

    Google Scholar 

  • Barners-Lee M (2012) Booths greenhouse gas footprint report

    Google Scholar 

  • Birkenberg A, Birner R (2018) The world’s first carbon neutral coffee: lessons on certification and innovation from a pioneer case in Costa Rica. J Clean Prod 189:485–501. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.03.226

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • BSR (2009) Value chain approaches to a low-carbon economy: business and policy partnerships a discussion paper for the world business summit on Climate Change in Copenhagen

    Google Scholar 

  • Carrasquilla-Batista A, Chacon-Rodriguez A, Solorzano-Quintana M, Guerrero-Barrantes M (2017) IoT applications: on the path of Costa Rica’s commitment to becoming carbon-neutral. Internet Things Glob. Community, IoTGC 2017 – Proc. https://doi.org/10.1109/IoTGC.2017.8008975

  • Castro R (2015) Eco-competitiveness and eco-efficiency: carbon neutrality in Latin America. Harvard Proj Clim Agreements:1–12. https://doi.org/10.1787/888933272500

  • Cederberg C, Meyer D, Flysjö A (2009) Life cycle inventory of greenhouse gas emissions and use of land and energy in Brazilian beef production, SIK Report No 792

    Google Scholar 

  • Chiriacò MV, Belli C, Chiti T, Trotta C, Sabbatini S (2019) The potential carbon neutrality of sustainable viticulture showed through a comprehensive assessment of the greenhouse gas (GHG) budget of wine production. J Clean Prod 225:435–450. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.03.192

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Climate-Smart Agriculture Leadership Forum (2016) A climate-smart pathway for Irish agricultural development exploring the leadership opportunity

    Google Scholar 

  • Deloitte (2016) Deloitte Sustainability. Circular economy potential for climate change mitigation, pp 0–43

    Google Scholar 

  • Dole (2019) Carbon footprint reduction [WWW document]. URL http://dolecrs.com/sustainability/carbon-footprint/reduction/. Accessed 8.21.19

  • Elofsson K, Bengtsson N, Matsdotter E, Arntyr J (2016) The impact of climate information on milk demand: evidence from a field experiment. Food Policy. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodpol.2015.11.002

  • European Commission (2006) Environmental impact of products (EIPRO): analysis of the life cycle environmental impacts related to the Total final consumption of the EU 25 (2006). European Commission technical report EUR 22284 EN

    Google Scholar 

  • FAO (2011) Energy-smart food for people climate

    Google Scholar 

  • FAO (2018) FAO’S work on climate change

    Google Scholar 

  • Fischedick M, Roy J, Abdel-Aziz A, Acquaye A, Allwood JM, Ceron J-P, Geng Y, Kheshgi H, Lanza A, Perczyk D, Price L, Santalla E, Sheinbaum C, Tanaka K (2014) Industry, in: Limate change 2014: mitigation of climate change. Contribution of working group III to the fifth assessment report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge/New York

    Google Scholar 

  • FoodDrinkEurope (2015) A TIME TO ACT Climate Action and the Food and Drink Industry

    Google Scholar 

  • Garnett T (2008) Cooking up a storm and our changing climate, strategy

    Google Scholar 

  • Garnett T (2011) Where are the best opportunities for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the food system (including the food chain)? Food Policy. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodpol.2010.10.010

  • Gladek, E., Kennedy, E., Exter, P. van, Monaghan, C., 2018. Food value chains strategy review

    Google Scholar 

  • Hartikainen H, Roininen T, Katajajuuri JM, Pulkkinen H (2014) Finnish consumer perceptions of carbon footprints and carbon labelling of food products. J Clean Prod 73:285–293. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2013.09.018

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jiménez GA, Kilian B, Rivera L (2013) Sustainability in the coffee growing business : Coopedota and the path towards carbon neutral coffee

    Google Scholar 

  • Kilian B, Hettinga J, Jiménez GA, Molina S, White A (2012) Case study on Dole’s carbon-neutral fruits. J Bus Res 65:1800–1810. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2011.10.040

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • KPMG, 2013. The agricultural and food value chain: entering a new era of cooperation

    Google Scholar 

  • Leire C, Thidell Ã… (2005) Product-related environmental information to guide consumer purchases – a review and analysis of research on perceptions, understanding and use among Nordic consumers. J Clean Prod. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2004.12.004

  • Marchi M, Neri E, Pulselli FM, Bastianoni S (2018) CO2 recovery from wine production: possible implications on the carbon balance at territorial level. J CO2 Util 28:137–144. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcou.2018.09.021

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mayberry D, Bartlett H, Moss J, Davison T, Herrero M (2019) Pathways to carbon-neutrality for the Australian red meat sector. Agric Syst 175:13–21. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2019.05.009

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meier T, Christen O (2012) Gender as a factor in an environmental assessment of the consumption of animal and plant-based foods in Germany. Int J Life Cycle Assess. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11367-012-0387-x

  • Muller A, Jawtusch J, Gattinger A (2011) Mitigating greenhouse gases in agriculture. Brot für die Welt 88

    Google Scholar 

  • Murphy-bokern D, Kleemann L (2014) The role of corporate social responsibility in reducing greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture and food

    Google Scholar 

  • Nieberg H (2009) Auf den Nahrungskonsum zurückzuführende THG-Emissionen., in: Erfassung, Bewertung Und Minderung von Treibhausgasemissionen Des Deutschen Agrar- Und Ernährungs- Sektors. Arbeitsberichte Aus Der VTI-Agrarökonomie 03/2009. Braunschweig: VTI

    Google Scholar 

  • Niles, M., Esquivel, J., Ahuja, R., Mango, N., 2017. Climate Change & Food Systems : assessing impacts and opportunities

    Google Scholar 

  • Niles MT, Ahuja R, Barker T, Esquivel J, Gutterman S, Heller MC, Mango N, Portner D, Raimond R, Tirado C, Vermeulen S (2018) Climate change mitigation beyond agriculture: a review of food system opportunities and implications. Renew Agric Food Syst. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1742170518000029

  • Noleppa S (2012) Climate change on your plate. World Wild Fund Nat. Ger

    Google Scholar 

  • Peters GM, Rowley HV, Wiedemann S, Tucker R, Short MD, Schulz M (2010) Red meat production in Australia: Life cycle assessment and comparison with overseas studies. Environ Sci Technol. https://doi.org/10.1021/es901131e

  • Poore J, Nemecek T (2018) Reducing food’s environmental impacts through producers and consumers. Science (80-. ). 360, 987–992. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aaq0216

  • Retail Forum for Sustainability (2011) Measurement and reduction of carbon footprint of stores, pp 1–10

    Google Scholar 

  • Sharp A, Wheeler M (2013) Reducing householders’ grocery carbon emissions: carbon literacy and carbon label preferences. Australas Mark J 21:240–249. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ausmj.2013.08.004

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sim S, Barry M, Clift R, Cowell SJ (2007) The relative importance of transport in determining an appropriate sustainability strategy for food sourcing. A case study of fresh produce supply chains. Int J Life Cycle Assess. https://doi.org/10.1065/lca2006.07.259

  • Smith P, Bustamante M, Ahammad H, Clark H, Dong H, Elsiddig EA, Haberl H, Harper R, House J, Jafari M, Masera O, Mbow C, Ravindranath NH, Rice CW, Abad CR, Romanovskaya A, Sperling F, Tubiello F (2014) Agriculture, forestry and other land use (AFOLU). In: Climate Change 2014: mitigation of climate change. Contribution of Working Group III to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge/New York, pp 811–922

    Google Scholar 

  • Soil & More International B.V (2010) Comprehensive Carbon Footprint Assessment Dole Bananas

    Google Scholar 

  • Stoessel F, Juraske R, Pfister S, Hellweg S (2012) Life cycle inventory and carbon and water foodprint of fruits and vegetables: application to a swiss retailer. Environ Sci Technol. https://doi.org/10.1021/es2030577

  • Styles D, Schoenberger H, Galvez-Martos JL (2012) Environmental improvement of product supply chains: a review of European retailers’ performance. Resour Conserv Recycl 65:57–78. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2012.05.002

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vanclay JK, Shortiss J, Aulsebrook S, Gillespie AM, Howell BC, Johanni R, Maher MJ, Mitchell KM, Stewart MD, Yates J (2011) Customer response to carbon labelling of groceries. J Consum Policy 34:153–160. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10603-010-9140-7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walenta J (2015) Becoming carbon neutral: evaluating the carbon neutral certification as a tool for reducing climate change impacts and securing financial livelihoods. Sustain J Rec 8:121–126. https://doi.org/10.1089/sus.2015.29002

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weber CL, Matthews HS (2008) Food-miles and the relative climate impacts of food choices in the United States. Environ Sci Technol. https://doi.org/10.1021/es702969f

  • Zimmermann A, Benda J, Webber H, Jafari Y (2018) Trade, food security and climate change: conceptual linkages and policy implications

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2022 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Acampora, A., Ruini, L., Pratesi, C.A., Lucchetti, M.C. (2022). How Difficult Is It to Reach Carbon Neutrality? Tales of Different Agri-Food Chains. In: Carbon Neutrality in the Agri-food Sector. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-88048-4_6

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics