Food produces greenhouse gases in Canada

Statistics Canada said the first comprehensive national estimate of food-related greenhouse gas emissions in Canada shows 23 percent of the food-related GHG emissions was attributable to the production of fresh and frozen meat, while fish products contributed 2 percent. Beef alone, officials said, accounted for 15 percent of all such emissions resulting from household spending on food during 2003.

"Looking at the amount of energy required to produce food shows another dimension of the environmental impact of the food system," the federal agency said. "More energy was used in the production of prepared foods than any of the other food groups, reflecting the energy inputs required for processing these foods."

Prepared foods accounted for 19 percent of food-related energy use, while dairy and eggs accounted for 18 percent and fresh and frozen meat accounted for 14 percent, officials said.

The research is available at http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/16-201-x/2009000/part-partie1-eng.htm.

Copyright 2009 by United Press International.