Use of Italian national food survey to estimate CO2 emissions related to âout of seasonâ consumption: kiwifruits as a case study

L. Mistura; M. Ferrari; S. Sette; C. Leclercq

Use of Italian national food survey to estimate CO₂ emissions related to âout of seasonâ consumption: kiwifruits as a case study

In: Ethical futures: bioscience and food horizons

Authors:

L. Mistura

L. Mistura National Research Institute on Food and Nutrition, via Ardeatina 546-0178 Rome, Italy; mistura@inran.it

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M. Ferrari

M. Ferrari National Research Institute on Food and Nutrition, via Ardeatina 546-0178 Rome, Italy; mistura@inran.it

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S. Sette

S. Sette National Research Institute on Food and Nutrition, via Ardeatina 546-0178 Rome, Italy; mistura@inran.it

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C. Leclercq

C. Leclercq National Research Institute on Food and Nutrition, via Ardeatina 546-0178 Rome, Italy; mistura@inran.it

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Type:: Chapter

Pages:: 111â114

DOI:: https://doi.org/10.3920/9789086866731_018

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Kiwifruits are available on the Italian market in all seasons but the kiwifruits produced in Italy are available mainly from November to April, whereas in other months these fruits are shipped from other continents (e.g. New Zealand, Australia, Chile and Argentina). The last Italian food consumption survey (INRAN-SCAI 2005-06) was used to estimate the CO₂ emissions related to this âout of seasonâ consumption of kiwifruit. The survey was conducted from October 2005 to December 2006 on 3,323 subjects. Food consumption was assessed on three consecutive days through individual dietary records. Overall, 14% of people taking part in the survey ate kiwifruit during the survey period. The data used to determine kiwifruit consumption over the year was skewed towards the months in which they are grown in Italy with a per capita intake of 11.4 g/day (18% of consumers) versus 6.5 g (12% of consumers) in May to October. Extrapolated to represent the Italian population (59 million citizens), it was estimated that 183,346 tonnes of kiwifruits are consumed in Italy each year, 10,630 tonnes of local origin and 79,716 tonnes from abroad. These kiwifruits may travel distances from abroad between a range of 12,000 km (Argentina) to 18,000 km (New Zealand). Based on an estimated emission of 15.0 g CO₂/tonne/ km for freight transport by small container vessels, the estimated CO₂ emissions for kiwifruit that is consumed âout of seasonâ ranges from 14,349 to 21,523 tonnes per year. If Italian consumers chose to limit their kiwifruit consumption to the months in which they are locally produced a very significant reduction of CO₂ emission could be obtained. There is a need for information campaigns directed to consumers so that (1) they become more aware of the damages caused by greenhouse gas emissions, (2) they understand the link between their food consumption patterns and greenhouse gas emissions, (3) they modify their food choices accordingly.

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Ethical futures: bioscience and food horizons

E-Book ISBN:: 9789086866731

Publisher:: Wageningen Academic

Print Publication Date:: 30 Oct 2009

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Use of Italian national food survey to estimate CO2 emissions related to âout of seasonâ consumption: kiwifruits as a case study

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Ethical futures: bioscience and food horizons

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Use of Italian national food survey to estimate CO₂ emissions related to âout of seasonâ consumption: kiwifruits as a case study