Irish carbon-footprinted food rated among best in the EU
The study by the Joint Research Centre of the EU Commission found Irish milk, pork and chicken have the lowest carbon footprint in the EU, with beef coming in fifth in its category.
Teagasc director of research Dr Frank O’Mara said: “This study is the first time such a range of products have been compared across all EU countries in a single comprehensive study.
“This will help shape future policy and strategy in relation to the twin goals of food security and climate change.
“Ireland is also in good shape with water availability, biodiversity and animal welfare standards. Food and marketing firms can use this to drive export growth, especially in affluent markets that put a premium on environmental and ethical standards.”
The study — Evaluation of the livestock sector contribution to the EU Greenhouse Gas emissions — evaluated emissions related to livestock rearing and the production of animal feed (including feed production from outside the EU).
It also looked at emissions caused by providing input of mineral fertilisers, pesticides, energy, and land for the production of feed. This cradle-to-gate lifecycle analysis gives a comprehensive assessment of different production systems.
Irish milk has the lowest (joint with Austria) carbon footprint in the EU at 1kg CO2-eq/kg milk, compared to the EU average of 1.4kg.
Irish pork also has the lowest carbon footprint in the EU (4.8kg vs EU average of 7.5 CO2-eq/kg pork) as does Irish chicken (3.3kg vs EU average of 4.9 CO2-eq/kg).
Other animal products are also reported to have low carbon footprints. For example, Irish beef has a carbon footprint of 19kg CO2-eq/kg beef, well below the EU average of 22.1kg CO2-eq/kg beef, and it is the fifth lowest in the EU.
In the report, the carbon footprint of Brazilian beef was estimated to be 80kg CO2-eq/kg beef when land use change is included (and 48kg when land use change is not considered).
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