CO₂-Footprints for Food of Animal Origin – Present Stage and Open Questions

摘要

The environmental assessment of human activities is presently a hot topic. It is not only important from an ecological perspective, but also from the view of efficient utilization of limited natural resources such as fuel, land area, water und phosphorus. The environmental impact of food of animal origin is currently quantified by so-called CO_2eq-footprints. To define CO_2eq-footprints, emissions arising along the food chain will be calculated according to their greenhouse potentials (carbon dioxide = 1 eq; methane ≈ 23 eq, laughing gas ≈ 300 eq). For the primary production of milk, meat and eggs, emissions during crop production, transportation, the storing and processing of feeds, animal keeping, enteric losses and excrement management can be mentioned as examples.