Testing the assertion that 'local food is best': the challenges of an evidence-based approach

Gareth Edwards-Jones; Llorenç Milà i Canals; Natalia Hounsome; Monica Truninger; Georgia Koerber; Barry Hounsome; Paul Cross; Elizabeth H. York; Almudena Hospido; Katharina Plassmann; Ian M. Harris; Rhiannon Edwards; Graham A.S. Day; A. Deri Tomos; Sarah J. Cowell; Davey L. Jones

doi:10.1016/j.tifs.2008.01.008

Testing the assertion that 'local food is best': the challenges of an evidence-based approach

Gareth Edwards-Jones, Llorenç Milà i Canals, Natalia Hounsome, Monica Truninger, Georgia Koerber, Barry Hounsome, Paul Cross, Elizabeth H. York, Almudena Hospido, Katharina Plassmann, Ian M. Harris, Rhiannon Edwards, Graham A.S. Day, A. Deri Tomos, Sarah J. Cowell, Davey L. Jones

Operations & Information Management

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Advocates of ‘local food’ claim it serves to reduce food miles and greenhouse gas emissions, improve food safety and quality, strengthen local economies and enhance social capital. We critically review the philosophical and scientific rationale for this assertion, and consider whether conventional scientific approaches can help resolve the debate. We conclude that food miles are a poor indicator of the environmental and ethical impacts of food production. Only through combining spatially explicit life cycle assessment with analysis of social issues can the benefits of local food be assessed. This type of analysis is currently lacking for nearly all food chains.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	265-274
Number of pages	10
Journal	Trends in Food Science and Technology
Volume	19
Issue number	5
Early online date	25 Jan 2008
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tifs.2008.01.008
Publication status	Published - May 2008

Access to Document

10.1016/j.tifs.2008.01.008

Cite this

Edwards-Jones, G., Milà i Canals, L., Hounsome, N., Truninger, M., Koerber, G., Hounsome, B., Cross, P., York, E. H., Hospido, A., Plassmann, K., Harris, I. M., Edwards, R., Day, G. A. S., Tomos, A. D., Cowell, S. J., & Jones, D. L. (2008). Testing the assertion that 'local food is best': the challenges of an evidence-based approach. Trends in Food Science and Technology, 19(5), 265-274. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tifs.2008.01.008

@article{c360805b27fe4d33860abdcb09b939f7,

title = "Testing the assertion that 'local food is best': the challenges of an evidence-based approach",

abstract = "Advocates of {\textquoteleft}local food{\textquoteright} claim it serves to reduce food miles and greenhouse gas emissions, improve food safety and quality, strengthen local economies and enhance social capital. We critically review the philosophical and scientific rationale for this assertion, and consider whether conventional scientific approaches can help resolve the debate. We conclude that food miles are a poor indicator of the environmental and ethical impacts of food production. Only through combining spatially explicit life cycle assessment with analysis of social issues can the benefits of local food be assessed. This type of analysis is currently lacking for nearly all food chains.",

author = "Gareth Edwards-Jones and {Mil{\`a} i Canals}, Lloren{\c c} and Natalia Hounsome and Monica Truninger and Georgia Koerber and Barry Hounsome and Paul Cross and York, {Elizabeth H.} and Almudena Hospido and Katharina Plassmann and Harris, {Ian M.} and Rhiannon Edwards and Day, {Graham A.S.} and Tomos, {A. Deri} and Cowell, {Sarah J.} and Jones, {Davey L.}",

year = "2008",

month = may,

doi = "10.1016/j.tifs.2008.01.008",

language = "English",

volume = "19",

pages = "265--274",

journal = "Trends in Food Science and Technology",

issn = "0924-2244",

publisher = "Elsevier",

number = "5",

}

Edwards-Jones, G, Milà i Canals, L, Hounsome, N, Truninger, M, Koerber, G, Hounsome, B, Cross, P, York, EH, Hospido, A, Plassmann, K, Harris, IM, Edwards, R, Day, GAS, Tomos, AD, Cowell, SJ & Jones, DL 2008, 'Testing the assertion that 'local food is best': the challenges of an evidence-based approach', Trends in Food Science and Technology, vol. 19, no. 5, pp. 265-274. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tifs.2008.01.008

TY - JOUR

T1 - Testing the assertion that 'local food is best'

T2 - the challenges of an evidence-based approach

AU - Edwards-Jones, Gareth

AU - Milà i Canals, Llorenç

AU - Hounsome, Natalia

AU - Truninger, Monica

AU - Koerber, Georgia

AU - Hounsome, Barry

AU - Cross, Paul

AU - York, Elizabeth H.

AU - Hospido, Almudena

AU - Plassmann, Katharina

AU - Harris, Ian M.

AU - Edwards, Rhiannon

AU - Day, Graham A.S.

AU - Tomos, A. Deri

AU - Cowell, Sarah J.

AU - Jones, Davey L.

PY - 2008/5

Y1 - 2008/5

N2 - Advocates of ‘local food’ claim it serves to reduce food miles and greenhouse gas emissions, improve food safety and quality, strengthen local economies and enhance social capital. We critically review the philosophical and scientific rationale for this assertion, and consider whether conventional scientific approaches can help resolve the debate. We conclude that food miles are a poor indicator of the environmental and ethical impacts of food production. Only through combining spatially explicit life cycle assessment with analysis of social issues can the benefits of local food be assessed. This type of analysis is currently lacking for nearly all food chains.

AB - Advocates of ‘local food’ claim it serves to reduce food miles and greenhouse gas emissions, improve food safety and quality, strengthen local economies and enhance social capital. We critically review the philosophical and scientific rationale for this assertion, and consider whether conventional scientific approaches can help resolve the debate. We conclude that food miles are a poor indicator of the environmental and ethical impacts of food production. Only through combining spatially explicit life cycle assessment with analysis of social issues can the benefits of local food be assessed. This type of analysis is currently lacking for nearly all food chains.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=41949133923&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.tifs.2008.01.008

DO - 10.1016/j.tifs.2008.01.008

M3 - Article

SN - 0924-2244

VL - 19

SP - 265

EP - 274

JO - Trends in Food Science and Technology

JF - Trends in Food Science and Technology

IS - 5

ER -

Testing the assertion that 'local food is best': the challenges of an evidence-based approach

Abstract

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this