Energy that uses fossil fuels and emits greenhouse gases is used not only in transporting food but also in processing, storing and packaging it too. Cranfield University carried out a study comparing the emissions produced by growing flowers in Kenya and flying them to the UK with the emissions produced by those grown in heated and lighted greenhouses in Holland. The emissions from the Dutch-grown process were five times greater.
Although air-freight is responsible for 200 times more emissions if goods are flown rather than shipped from Kenya, it is estimated that not buying fresh produce air-freighted from Africa would reduce emissions by a mere 0.1%. Lucy Michaels has highlighted the strange contradiction whereby some supermarkets which profess concern about the environmental impact of food miles reward customers through loyalty schemes with British Airways air miles.
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