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The local industrial complex? Questioning the link between local foods and energy use

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  • Matthew Mariola

Abstract

Local food has become the rising star of the sustainable agriculture movement, in part because of the energy efficiencies thought to be gained when food travels shorter distances. In this essay I critique four key assumptions that underlie this connection between local foods and energy. I then describe two competing conclusions implied by the critique. On the one hand, local food systems may need a more extensive and integrated transportation infrastructure to achieve sustainability. On the other hand, the production, transportation, and consumption of local foods are fundamentally as reliant on fossil fuels as are long distance foods. A more holistic approach to energy use in the food system is needed to determine which particular sociotechnical factors optimize energetic sustainability. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2008

Suggested Citation

  • Matthew Mariola, 2008. "The local industrial complex? Questioning the link between local foods and energy use," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 25(2), pages 193-196, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:agrhuv:v:25:y:2008:i:2:p:193-196
    DOI: 10.1007/s10460-008-9115-3
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    Cited by:

    1. Angela M. Chapman & Harold A. Perkins, 2020. "Malign and benign neglect: a local food system and the myth of sustainable redevelopment in Appalachia Ohio," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 37(1), pages 113-127, March.
    2. Organ, Kate & Koenig-Lewis, Nicole & Palmer, Adrian & Probert, Jane, 2015. "Festivals as agents for behaviour change: A study of food festival engagement and subsequent food choices," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 84-99.
    3. Sini Forssell & Leena Lankoski, 2015. "The sustainability promise of alternative food networks: an examination through “alternative” characteristics," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 32(1), pages 63-75, March.
    4. Yaheng Cui & Ibrahima Diarrassouba & Cédric Joncour & Sophie Michel Loyal, 2024. "Optimization and Analysis of the Impact of Food Hub Location on GHG Emissions in a Short Food Supply Chain," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-26, September.
    5. Torquati, Biancamaria & Cecchini, Lucio & Paffarini, Chiara & Chiorri, Massimo, 2021. "The economic and environmental sustainability of extra virgin olive oil supply chains: An analysis based on food miles and value chains," Economia agro-alimentare / Food Economy, Italian Society of Agri-food Economics/Società Italiana di Economia Agro-Alimentare (SIEA), vol. 23(1), May.
    6. David Cleveland & Allison Carruth & Daniella Mazaroli, 2015. "Operationalizing local food: goals, actions, and indicators for alternative food systems," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 32(2), pages 281-297, June.
    7. Martinez, Stephen W. & Hand, Michael S. & Da Pra, Michelle & Pollack, Susan L. & Ralston, Katherine L. & Smith, Travis A. & Vogel, Stephen J. & Clark, Shellye & Lohr, Luanne & Low, Sarah A. & Newman, , 2010. "Local Food Systems: Concepts, Impacts, and Issues," Economic Research Report 96635, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
      • Martinez, Steve & Hand, Michael & Da Pra, Michelle & Pollack, Susan & Ralston, Katherine & Smith, Travis & Vogel, Stephen & Clarke, Shellye & Lohr, Luanne & Low, Sarah & Newman, Constance, 2010. "Local food systems: concepts, impacts, and issues," MPRA Paper 24313, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    8. Robbins, M.J., 2013. "Locating food sovereignty: geographical and sectoral distance in the global food system," ISS Working Papers - General Series 557, International Institute of Social Studies of Erasmus University Rotterdam (ISS), The Hague.
    9. Carson Young, 2022. "Should You Buy Local?," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 176(2), pages 265-281, March.
    10. Robin Kortright & Sarah Wakefield, 2011. "Edible backyards: a qualitative study of household food growing and its contributions to food security," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 28(1), pages 39-53, February.
    11. Mundler, Patrick & Rumpus, Lucas, 2012. "The energy efficiency of local food systems: A comparison between different modes of distribution," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 37(6), pages 609-615.
    12. Patrick Mundler & Sophie Laughrea, 2015. "Circuits alimentaires de proximité - Quels bénéfices pour le développement des territoires? Étude de cas dans trois territoires québécois," CIRANO Project Reports 2015rp-21, CIRANO.
    13. Clark, Jill K. & Conley, Brian & Raja, Samina, 2021. "Essential, fragile, and invisible community food infrastructure: The role of urban governments in the United States," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 103(C).
    14. Maria Cecilia Mancini & Davide Menozzi & Michele Donati & Beatrice Biasini & Mario Veneziani & Filippo Arfini, 2019. "Producers’ and Consumers’ Perception of the Sustainability of Short Food Supply Chains: The Case of Parmigiano Reggiano PDO," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-23, January.
    15. Lou Plateau & Laurence Holzemer & Thiago Nyssens & Kevin Maréchal, 2016. "Analyse dynamique de la durabilité vécue et mise en oeuvre par les acteurs des circuits courts - Rapport scientifique final," ULB Institutional Repository 2013/336724, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
    16. Biancamaria Torquati & Chiara Taglioni & Alessio Cavicchi, 2015. "Evaluating the CO 2 Emission of the Milk Supply Chain in Italy: An Exploratory Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(6), pages 1-16, June.
    17. Biancamaria Torquati & Lucio Cecchini & Chiara Paffarini & Massimo Chiorri, 2021. "The economic and environmental sustainability of extra virgin olive oil supply chains: An analysis based on food miles and value chains," Economia agro-alimentare, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 23(1), pages 1-28.
    18. Bayram Dundar & Christine Costello & Ronald G. McGarvey, 2017. "Robust optimization evaluation of reliance on locally produced foods," Environment Systems and Decisions, Springer, vol. 37(1), pages 34-41, March.

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