In the first step, we collected and modelled new data based on studies and interviews with experts. In the second step, we used life cycle assessments to answer the question of which cultivation systems are preferable from an ecological point of view. We analysed and compared 1 kilogram of each product delivered to a Swiss supermarket:
– Tomatoes grown in Switzerland and in Spain (Almería)
– Ready-to-eat green beans, grown and processed in Switzerland and Kenya
– Strawberries, grown in Switzerland and Spain (Andalusia)
– Asparagus, grown in Switzerland, Peru and Mexico
Using the ecological scarcity method, we calculated the ecological impact of all phases of life – from the extraction of raw materials and the individual stages of cultivation to the disposal of packaging and transport.
To summarise some of the most important findings:
– Fresh, seasonal and local fruit and vegetables are preferable to other options, but only if they are not grown in greenhouses using fossil fuelled heating energy.
– The cultivation process has by far the greatest environmental impact compared to transport, packaging and processing. However, when fruit and vegetables are transported by plane, the impact of transport dominates the environmental footprint.
– Within the cultivation processes, heating and the production of greenhouse infrastructure have the greatest impact on the environment, followed by fertilisers.
– In the case of pesticides, the active ingredients used play a major role. Many substances that are banned in Europe are used in other countries, especially overseas, where the regulations are less strict. However, banned substances are also repeatedly detected in fruit and vegetables from Europe. Consumers who choose organic products are on the safer side in this respect.
