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Make logical food choicesBuying locally grown food is the latest consumer trend to spread across the country. Many consumers buy local to support their area farmers. But others have bought into one of the biggest food myths of today. They buy local because they think it is an environmentally sound choice. According to Dr. Jude Capper, assistant professor of dairy science at Washington State University, that just isn't the case. Capper uses a life-cycle assessment approach when evaluating our food production system. Speaking at the Cornell Nutrition Conference this fall, Capper said, "as a food industry, we must use a whole-system approach and assess environmental impact per gallon of milk, pound of beef or dozen eggs not per farm or per acre." By taking this approach Capper has debunked some very popular food myths that compare modern farming practices with the glamorized farming practices of the 1950s and 1940s. For example, Capper said in 2007 the U.S. dairy industry produced 83 billion more gallons of milk than in 1944 but thanks to improved productivity the carbon footprint of the entire dairy farm industry was reduced by 41 percent during that time period, he said. Grass fed beef is very popular now, in part because people think it is more environmentally friendly. According to Capper the time needed to grow a grass-fed animal to slaughter weight is nearly double that of a corn-fed animal. The greenhouse emissions and energy use per pound of beef are increased three-fold with grass-fed beef cattle. Capper said to finish the current inventory of 9.8 million fed cattle on grass would take an additional 60 million acres. Many people are using the phrase "food mile" to explain why locally grown food is better for the environment. Capper said we should consider the productivity of the transportation system, which uses high-capacity vehicles to move food products around the country. Capper said one dozen eggs traveling to a grocery store in a tractor-trailer that carries 23,400 dozen eggs is 4.5 times more fuel-efficient than a dozen eggs purchased at a farmers market. "Consumers might think they are making the responsible, virtuous food choices, when in truth, they are supporting production practices that consume more natural resources, cause greater pollution, and create a larger carbon footprint than more efficient, technology-driven, conventional methods," Capper said. We need to make logical decisions, based on fact, not myths, when making personal food choices. Buying local is great because it keeps another farmer in business and it reminds urban America of its rural heritage. However, locally grown food may not necessarily be better for the environment just because it is local. Modern agricultural production methods can deliver affordable food to a hungry world and still be environmentally friendly.
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