Carbon-footprints for food of animal origin, reduction potentials and research need

Abstract

The environmental assessment of human activities is presently a hot topic. It is not only important from an ecological perspective, but also from the view of efficient utilisation of limited natural resources such as fuel, land area, water und phosphorus. The environmental impact of food of animal origin is currently quantified by so-called CO2eq-footprints (Carbon Footprints: CF). To define CF, emissions arising along the food chain will be calculated according to their greenhouse potentials (carbon dioxide = 1 eq; methane ≈ 23 eq, laughing gas ≈ 300 eq). For the primary production of milk, meat and eggs, emissions during crop production, transportation, the storing and processing of feeds, animal keeping, enteric losses and excrement management can be mentioned as examples. Data for CF of food of animal origin and edible protein are deduced in the paper. Furthermore reduction potentials and research need are summarised.