Sustainability Flashcards
(24 cards)
What are food miles?
The total number of miles your food has travelled from where it is grown to where it is eaten
Advantages of food miles for consumers?
- More food choice as products that cannot be grown here are transported abroad
- Food is available all year round so customers always have access to favourite foods
Disadvantages of food miles to consumers?
- Environmentally aware consumer may not choose to but these foods due to high CO2 emissions
- Increased prices due to extra cost of fuel and transport
- Food might not be fresh after travelling long distances
What is locally produced?
Foods that are grown and sold in your local area. They are normally seasonal ingredients grown by local farmers but can produce made and sold by local businesses
Examples of locally produced
- Food sold at local farmers markets
- Local produce sold in supermarkets
- Farms for customers to pick own food
Advantages of locally produced to customers
- Supports local community and businesses as money stays in local area.
- Helps reduce CO2 due to less food miles and seasonal foods
- Foods may be fresher as it has spent less time travelling
Disadvantage of locally produced to customers
- Foods can be more expensive due to higher labour costs
- Less food choice as not all foods are able to be grown in scotland
- Some foods are only available at certain times of year
What is seasonality?
Foods are in season when they are grown at the correct time of year when the climate and oil are at their best to ensure high quality produce
Advantage of seasonality to customers
- Foods in season are at their best for nutritional content and taste
- Lots available which should result in cheaper price
- Fewer food mile so better for the environment
- Purchasing seasonal local foods supports your local community
Disadvantage of seasonality to customers
- Limited food choice, as our climate cannot grow foods all year round
What are organic foods?
Foods produced naturally in conditions hat have not been altered by other factors
What does it mean if a food is organic?
- No artificial chemical fertilisers or pesticides are used when the food is grown
- There are no additives or GM ingredients
- Animal welfare standards are higher with many products also ‘free-range’
Advantages of organic to customers
- Possible health benefits or having no added chemicals or pesticides
- Most products will have higher animal welfare standards
- Products are clearly labelled to help customers make choices
Disadvantages of organic to customers
- Limited number of products to choose from that are certified as fully organic
- More expensive than non organic foods
- Foods may have shorter shelf life as no preservatives are used
What is sustainable food prodcution about?
Finding effective ways of producing enough food for a growing world population, whilst minimising the impact on the environment for future generations
Why is genetically modification useful for?
- Make plants grow larger or produce more per harvest
- Helps to make plants more resistant to diseases
- Can produce longer shelf life to minimise food waste
- Nutritional value can be altered to help improve dietary health
Advantages of GM foods to consumer
- Last longer which can lead to less food waste and less money wasted
- Nutritional value improved and reduce dietary diseases
- Foods more uniform in shape and size so more aesthetically pleasing
Disadvantages of GM food to consumer
- Long term effect of GM foods is unkown so consumers may be concerned about potential impact on health
- May have a bad impact on the environment
Why use factory farming?
- Food is produced quickly to keep up with demand
- Large quantities can be produced to feed a growing population
- Helps to minimise cost and reduce the price of food for customers on a low budget
- Maximises profit for mega farm companies
Why use free-range farming?
- Higher standards of animal welfare and a better quality of life
- Consumers can feel good about making more ethical food choices
- A more natural and sustainable way of farming that is seen by many consumers as being better for the environment
Advantage of factory farming to consumer?
- Food is cheaper as production cost are kept low
- Customer might be unaware of conditions of animal
Disadvantage of factory farming to consumer
- Possibility of animal disease spreading due to crowded conditions
- Ethical concerns of animals being treated poorly, consumer might not like conditions
Advantage of free-range to consumer?
- Customers can make more ethical food choices and feel good about supporting better animal welfare
- Products are clearly labelled to help make informed choice
Disadvantages of free-range to consumer
- Products are more expensive so some customers might not be able to afford them
- Not all product are available as free-range so there may be limited choice
