Elsevier

Global Food Security

Volume 28, March 2021, 100507
Global Food Security

Urban agriculture may change food consumption towards low carbon diets

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gfs.2021.100507Get rights and content
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Highlights

  • Food consumption of urban gardeners evolved toward low-carbon choices.

  • Food related carbon footprint was 10% lower in urban gardeners than in the control.

  • The largest carbon footprint reduction was linked to a decrease in meat consumption.

  • Urban gardening can be an effective strategy for mitigating climate change.

  • Small changes in food consumption can have a significant impact on carbon footprint.

Abstract

The mitigation of greenhouse gases in the agri-food sector depends on production and consumption patterns. This study focuses on the impact of urban gardening activities on food consumption and the carbon footprint. Changes in the food habits of citizens involved in urban agriculture activities in the city of Madrid were assessed over a five-year period using an online survey. The impact of habit change on the average carbon footprint from food consumption was assessed using a life-cycle approach. The results display a potential reduction of up to 205.1 kg CO2e/year per person (12.1%), which can mainly be achieved with a reduction in animal source foods. The results suggest that urban gardens could be used as social catalysts for pro-environmental behavior and greenhouse gas mitigation in urban areas.

Keywords

Climate change
Carbon footprint
Food consumption
Social learning
Pro-environmental behavior
Food policy

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