How much does eating locally-produced food help the climate problem? What are the other potential environmental and social benefits of eating locally-grown/produced food? Do you have a food garden in your school or at home? If not, do you want one?
Home Grown >
Raising livestock and growing gardens
I read somewhere that carrots grown halfway across the world are much better in terms of reducing carbon emissions than growing cattle much closer to home. I had to stop and think about it, but It's kinda true- After all, the only carbon output involved (I put that broadly) is transporting the plants across the world, a one (Or two) way trip. But Livestock, especially cows, produce much more carbon output over time. First, there is the food required to raise the cattle from birth until it's ready for the slaughter house. Then, the cow itself expels carbon dioxide from it's breath, while plants tend to take in carbon dioxide to expel O2, then there is the feces. Which produces Methane. A greenhouse gas that warms the earth much greater than carbon dioxide, as well.
After a cow has lived it's life and is ready for slaughter, it's sent to a factory to be cut up, ground up, who-knows-what, then packaged. if an infection pops up anywhere in the process, the factory w ould be shut down temporarily, causing lots of food to go to waste.
Yet...
It's just so wonderful to taste. but is it really worth it?