Assessing the energy requirement of local food systems

161 Pages·2017·2.04 MB·English

Southern Cross University
ePublications@SCU
Theses
2016
Assessing the energy requirement of local food
systems: insights from Australia
Marie-Chantale Pelletier
Southern Cross University
Publication details
Pelletier, MC, 2016, 'Assessing the energy requirement of local food systems: insights from Australia', PhD thesis, Southern Cross
University, Lismore, NSW.
Copyright MC Pelletier 2016
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Assessing the energy requirement
of local food systems
Insights from Australia

Marie-Chantale Pelletier
Bachelor of Applied Science (Forest Science) (Honours I)

School of Environment, Science and Engineering
Southern Cross University

Doctoral Thesis

4 February 2016

I certify that the work presented in this thesis is, to the best of my knowledge and belief,
original, except as acknowledged in the text, and that the material has not been
submitted, either in whole or in part, for a degree at this or any other university.
I acknowledge that I have read and understood the University's rules, requirements,
procedures and policy relating to my higher degree research award and to my thesis. I
certify that I have complied with the rules, requirements, procedures and policy of the
University (as they may be from time to time).

Signed …………………………………………. Date …………………………….
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Abstract
Among the consequences of globalisation and international trade, are lengthening food
supply chains. Long supply chains that rely on fossil energy for food production and
distribution threaten food security and contribute to climate change. The gains in
economic efficiency achieved through trade liberalisation however are accompanied
by increased health risks and deteriorating social and environmental conditions.
In contrast, “local food” is produced in close proximity to where it is consumed and
producers are often in direct contact with consumers. Local food is often proposed as
an alternative to the global distribution of food and a means to regain control over the
economic, social and environmental conditions under which it is produced and
distributed. There is an assumption amongst local food participants that local is more
sustainable, and while this is well established socially and economically,
environmental sustainability is less clear.
This study uses an ecological economics framework with fossil energy use as an
indicator for the depletion of non-renewable resources of the source function, and as a
factor limiting the capacity of the sink function to prevent climate change. Input
output analysis in conjunction with energy accounting is used firstly to estimate the
total quantity of energy required to satisfy Australian households final demand across
broad consumption categories. Food was found to account for 13% of the total energy
requirement of households in 2009-10. The most important food categories
contributing to this energy footprint were “meat products” (19.3%) followed by
“snacks, confectionary, prepared meals” (18.4%).
The research then proceeds to compare the environmental sustainability of two
different food systems in Australia. Using a case study in the pork industry, the energy
required to produce and deliver local products to final demand is compared to similar
products available in the national-global food system. Local producers from three
different farms realised energy savings of 9% - 65% across four different pork
products, confirming they are delivering better environmental outcomes than the
global-national system. This research points to the potential contribution of localised
food to improving the sustainability of food systems, and the need for wider
investigations into the environmental impacts of local food in Australia.
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Acknowledgements

I would like to thank my supervisors, Professor Caroline Sullivan and Dr Graeme
Palmer for their patience and flexibility. I appreciated the freedom to explore the subject
and develop my own research topic, making mistakes and redressing them at my own
pace. I particularly valued Professor Sullivan’s support and encouragement, including
her ability to cheer me up whenever I lost sight of the bigger picture. Our many
interesting discussions and her constructive comments were very valuable to my
progress.
Additional thanks go to Dr Jacqueline Robinson of the University of Queensland for her
sound advice, as well as Roger Campbell, Tammy Jonas, Phil Evans and Michael Hicks
for sharing their time and expertise along the way. I would also like to thank the
organisations that provided funding for my research, the Department of Education and
Training for the Australian Postgraduate Award that supported me throughout my
candidature, as well as the School of Environment, Science and Engineering at Southern
Cross University for additional funding support.
Finally, I am most grateful to my family for their tolerance and understanding
throughout my candidature, especially in the lead up to deadlines that inevitably
required a reshuffling of priorities.
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Table of contents

Abstract ....................................................................................................................................... 5
Acknowledgements .................................................................................................................................. 7
Table of contents ...................................................................................................................................... 9
List of figures ..................................................................................................................................... 11
List of tables ..................................................................................................................................... 12
Abbreviations ..................................................................................................................................... 13
Glossary ..................................................................................................................................... 15
Chapter 1 – Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 18
1.1 Background ............................................................................................................................. 18
1.2 Objectives of the research ....................................................................................................... 19
Chapter 2 – Food systems and the environment ................................................................................. 21
2.1 Global food systems ................................................................................................................ 21
2.2 Local food systems ................................................................................................................. 25
2.3 Energy and the environmental impacts of food systems ......................................................... 27
2.3.1 Food production ........................................................................................................... 30
2.3.2 Food consumption ................................................................................................... 32
2.4 Energy embodied in local food ............................................................................................... 33
2.5 The Australian context ............................................................................................................ 38
Chapter 3 - Assessing the energy requirement of food ....................................................................... 41
3.1 Connecting economy, energy and environment: a historical perspective ............................... 41
3.2 Modern concerns and methodological evolution .................................................................... 44
3.3 Life Cycle Assessments .......................................................................................................... 48
3.4 Input output analysis ............................................................................................................... 50
3.5 Environmental extensions ....................................................................................................... 53
3.6 Hybrid approach ..................................................................................................................... 56
3.7 This research ........................................................................................................................... 58
Chapter 4 - Methods .............................................................................................................................. 59
4.1 Macro-scale: An input output model for the energy requirement of national food consumption
59
4.1.1 Data sources ................................................................................................................. 59
4.1.2 Aggregation of the monetary input output table: 114 to 43 sectors ............................. 60
4.1.3 Disaggregation method ................................................................................................ 62
4.1.4 Disaggregation of the pork industry ............................................................................ 64
4.1.5 Disaggregation of the retail sector ............................................................................... 65
4.1.6 Allocation of energy use .............................................................................................. 69
4.1.7 Energy input output model for household consumption .............................................. 71
4.1.8 Calculation of the energy requirement for food consumption ..................................... 72
4.1.9 Methodological limitations .......................................................................................... 74
4.2 Micro-scale: the local food sector .......................................................................................... 77
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