CHANGE OUR DIET - eat seasonal and local products
Today,
the economy is globalized and the products we consume come from all over the
world, they have sometimes crossed several oceans (aboard huge container ship)
before arriving in the shelves of our stores. Food, like all other products,
does not escape this rule, but what
impact on the environment can have a food that is consumed hundreds of
kilometers from its production sites?
First
of all, Scotland, like most European countries, produces only a small part of
the food it consumes. Thus nearly 50% of food is imported either from Europe
(20 - 30%) or much further (20%).
For
example the fresh fruit found in our supermarket shelves can be from Spain,
South Africa, Costa Rica...
What is the impact on the environment of off-farm production : fruit and vegetables from Spain ?
The
Almeria region in Spain has become since the beginning of the 2000s an immense
land of fruit and vegetable production which floods the stores of all Europe.
These fruits and vegetables are produced above ground in plastic greenhouses.
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The Almeria region was, before being a plastic desert, a
desert of sand without water. However, production in the greenhouse, above
ground, requires very large amounts of water to which nutrients and pesticides
are added. In addition to the direct pollution of water (which is rarely
treated), soils and air from the Almeria region, the consumption of these
products causes such a significant pollution because of transport.
What can we do?
Let's change the way
we consume! As far as possible stop buying the cheapest fresh products. Look
the origin of the products that one buys, it is most of the time indicated on
the packing, to favour the local products or in default, the national products.
Above all stop wanting to eat off-season products that will inevitably be
imported from far-off countries or the climate even out of season is more favourable
to the growth of these fruits and vegetables.
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