Distributing asparagus: a climate perspective considering producer and consumer aspects

Abstract

Greenhouse gas emissions are one of the major impediments to sustainable food production and distribution. In this study, we address the climate impact of alternative distribution channels for asparagus. Since distribution always includes the transport of goods and people, we include both the producer and the consumer perspective. The product carbon footprint (PCF) was chosen to measure the climate impact. Within the study, three different distribution channels were analyzed: supermarkets, sales booths, and onsite farm shops. Our sample data implies that buying at the sales booths is the most climate-friendly way to buy for several reasons which are further explained throughout the study.