食物裏程留下苦味

遲早,消費者要醒來,食物來源,以及它如何到達了超市貨架上,可以同樣重要的是,環境來說,它是如何產生的。有機物是大生意。2004年歐洲市場價值€207億,自2001年以來增長了26%。日益擔憂人工化肥和農藥對環境的影響當然是一個因素,但超市也迅速進入主流消費的擔憂可能危險的化學物質。裝扮成環境問題的證據,主流有機行業作為一個營銷工具,越來越多的使用,給了消費者的擔憂。和其他重要環境因素被忽視的結果。造成的環境破壞食物裏程,一個開始。有機農產品運往超市貨架上的越來越多的國外采購。土壤協會最近的一份報告,該報告,有機產品的銷售增加了很失望,超市是實現這種增長的部分從國外有機食品。運輸食物,空氣,每噸二氧化碳排放量最高,是增長最快的模式,引起了環保人士的擔憂。 The effect is that the positive environmental impact of organic farming can often be offset by such lengthy transportation. This increasing reliance on imports is fundamentally undermining the good intentions behind the organic movement and misleading consumers. Organic apples from New Zealand might leave a bigger environmental footprint than locally produced regular apples. The consumer has no way of knowing. The food industry is therefore misleading the ethical consumer, and as with everything, it will all come out in the wash eventually. That is not to say that the food miles argument is above reproach. The concept of sourcing food exclusively from local suppliers is in direct opposition to the notion of global free trade, and suggests a protectionist agenda that in Europe has been responsible for denying market access to some of the world's poorest nations. It is argued that poor cash crop-dependent economies could collapse if the global agricultural trade were to be curtailed. Many development specialists argue that cash crops tie poorer nations in a state of servitude, but the fact remains that for many nations, agricultural exports is the most important industry. And of course, locally produced food can often be more expensive than regular food. The issue of food miles is often seen as an exclusively middle class one - some can afford to care, some can't. But the point is that the food industry is not being straight with the consumer. We can surely decide for ourselves whether food miles is a relevant concept to live by or a load of lefty nonsense, but we need the facts to make this choice in the first place. The number of people who see themselves as ethical shoppers is increasing inexorably. Food companies are tapping into this, pushing organic food into the mainstream. But until the issue of food miles is adequately addressed, the organic movement will remain hobbled by an inherent contradiction. Eventually, we could see energy audits on supermarket shelves to help consumers choose wisely. If and when that happens, you can be sure that food makers will be falling over themselves to show the world that they think globally, act locally. Anthony Fletcher is the editor of FoodNavigator.com and is a specialist writer on food industry issues. With an international focus, he has lived and worked in the UK, France and Japan. If you would like to comment on this article please e-mail anthony.fletcher@novisgroup.com.