Food miles

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Food miles is an expression for the concept that the mileage of food before it reaches the consumer (or the plate) is a good indicator for the environmental impact of the food and its components. Recent findings indicate that it is not only how far the food has travelled but how it has travelled that is important to consider. The positive environmental effects of specialist organic farming may be offset by increased transportation, unless it is produced by local farms. But even then the logistics and effects on other local traffic may play a big role. Also, many trips by personal cars to external shopping centres would have a negative environmental impact compared to a few truck loads to neighbourhood stores that can be easily accessed by walking or biking.

See also