Argument Against Environmental Benefits of Locally-Grown Food

Roger A. Cady, Ph.D., Senior Technical Consultant at Elanco, plans to “dispel the myth” that purchasing locally grown food is better for the environment than buying from grocery retailers during a presentation to members of the Agricultural and Food Transporters Conference (AFTC) of the American Trucking Associations (ATA). The presentation will be held at ATA headquarters in Arlington, Va., on Monday, Feb. 22, at 11:15 a.m.

Cady is co-author of the recent report, “Demystifying the Environmental Sustainability of Food Production [PDF],” which suggests that buying food from grocery retailers who are part of the modern transportation network is more energy efficient and environmentally beneficial than buying from local sources like farmer’s markets.

The report explains that linear travel miles are not indicative of total energy use and therefore not necessarily a valid measure of the environmental impact of moving food over long distances. Instead of total miles traveled, the report states that the energy use per unit of food moved paints a more accurate picture of overall energy use. The report found that a modern refrigerated tractor-trailer uses the least amount of fuel per dozen eggs while en route to a grocery store, even if the eggs travel hundreds more miles than would eggs traveling from a local farm to a farmers market or to the consumer’s home. Fuel consumption per dozen eggs purchased from a farmers market is more than eight times the amount used by tractor-trailer. A consumer traveling to a local poultry farm is even less fuel-efficient.

Shipping eggs across then entire U.S. by tractor-trailer to a grocery retailer is still the most fuel-efficient, eco-friendly option, said the report. This underscores the tremendous efficiency achieved through modern transportation systems and economies of scale. While the report did not examine all food products, it does conclude that “food should be grown where the agricultural resources and capacity are most suited to efficient food production,” rather than close to population centers.

AFTC is the national organization representing motor carrier and allied members of the American Trucking Associations on critical issues affecting agricultural commodity and food transportation. Founded in 1995, AFTC’s mission is to increase the safety, security, profitability and efficiency of transporters of agricultural commodities, food, forest products and natural resources; and to serve as the advocate for its members within the American Trucking Associations and before the government, other organizations and the public. AFTC works to ensure that its members operate in a strong and profitable business environment by helping shape legislation and regulations that impact the agricultural and food transportation industry.

The American Trucking Associations is the largest national trade association for the trucking industry. Through a federation of other trucking groups, industry-related conferences, and its 50 affiliated state trucking associations, ATA represents more than 37,000 members covering every type of motor carrier in the United States.

Elanco is a global, innovation-driven company that develops and markets products to improve animal health and protein production in more than 75 countries. Elanco employs more than 2,300 people worldwide, with offices in more than 40 countries, and is a division of Eli Lilly and Company, a leading global pharmaceutical corporation.