Environmental impacts in Environmental impacts in food production and food production and processingprocessing

Lorenzo Santucci United Nations Economic and Social Commission for

Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP)

Subregional Workshop on the Trade and Environment Dimensions in the Food and Food Processing Industries in the PacificSuva, Fiji, 7-8 June 2006

Every human activity has an impact on Every human activity has an impact on the environmentthe environment

Whether these impacts are positive or Whether these impacts are positive or negative and whether they will affect negative and whether they will affect long-term sustainability it is to a large long-term sustainability it is to a large extent a question of management extent a question of management

What are the main environmental impacts in food production and processing?

How do they affect product quality?

How to reduce and manage the environmental impacts?

AgricultureAgriculture

Consumption of water, energy and Consumption of water, energy and natural resourcesnatural resources

Use of pesticidesUse of pesticides

Use of fertilizersUse of fertilizers

MaterialsMaterials EnergyEnergy EmissionsEmissions

Preparation of soilPreparation of soil Chemicals (methyl bromide)

Chemicals (methyl bromide)

FertilizationFertilization Fertilizers Phosphate, nitrogen

IrrigationIrrigation Water Energy to move water

Crop protectionCrop protection Pesticides Pesticides

PackagingPackaging Packaging materials Waste materials and chemicals

TransportingTransporting Fuel CO2

Examples of ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF AGRICULTURE

Some improvement options:Some improvement options:

FertilizationFertilization: optimum use of fertilizers and : optimum use of fertilizers and growth methods = optimum condition of growth methods = optimum condition of the cropthe crop

IrrigationIrrigation: more efficient use of water (drop-: more efficient use of water (drop-irrigation), water re-use and well-working irrigation), water re-use and well-working drainage systemdrainage system

Crop protectionCrop protection: natural pesticides, : natural pesticides, biological pest control, Integrated Pest biological pest control, Integrated Pest Management, biotechnologyManagement, biotechnology

SugarcaneSugarcane

Major environmental impacts:Major environmental impacts:

Soil erosion and degradationSoil erosion and degradation EffluentsEffluents Solid waste, wastewater and emissionsSolid waste, wastewater and emissions Habitat lossHabitat loss

Soil degradationSoil degradation

Soil preparation, especially if done by Soil preparation, especially if done by burning, reduces the organic matter of burning, reduces the organic matter of soils and microorganism diversitysoils and microorganism diversity

In some cases cultivation leads to land In some cases cultivation leads to land subsidencesubsidence

Sugar processing harms the soil: Sugar processing harms the soil: removing cane from fields reduces removing cane from fields reduces fertility fertility increased use and reliance on increased use and reliance on fertilizersfertilizers

EffluentsEffluents

Pesticides and fertilizers are a major Pesticides and fertilizers are a major source of pollution of local water suppliessource of pollution of local water supplies

Effluents from sugarcane processing can Effluents from sugarcane processing can also negatively affect water supplies and also negatively affect water supplies and ecological areasecological areas

Solid waste, wastewater Solid waste, wastewater and emissionsand emissions

Wastes from sugarcane production if left Wastes from sugarcane production if left to decompose in freshwater bodies to decompose in freshwater bodies absorb oxygen and kill fishabsorb oxygen and kill fish

10 cubic meters of water per cubic meter 10 cubic meters of water per cubic meter of cane are used to wash incoming cane of cane are used to wash incoming cane before processingbefore processing

Mills produce fuel emissions, which Mills produce fuel emissions, which include soot, ash and solid substancesinclude soot, ash and solid substances

Habitat lossHabitat loss

Sugarcane is one of the most cultivated Sugarcane is one of the most cultivated crops in the tropiccrops in the tropic

Its extensive cultivation has caused Its extensive cultivation has caused considerable loss of biodiverisityconsiderable loss of biodiverisity

Some improvement options:Some improvement options:

Soil degradationSoil degradation: increase organic matter : increase organic matter (no burning), focus on more productive (no burning), focus on more productive areasareas

EffluentsEffluents: Pest control & management, : Pest control & management, reduce nutrient loadingreduce nutrient loading

WasteWaste: sugar processing wastes can be : sugar processing wastes can be treatedtreated

Loss of habitatLoss of habitat: eliminate burning prior to : eliminate burning prior to harvestharvest

AquacultureAquaculture

Aquaculture is the fastest-growing form Aquaculture is the fastest-growing form of food production in the worldof food production in the world

Shrimp dominates aquaculture by valueShrimp dominates aquaculture by value

Aquaculture can cause considerable Aquaculture can cause considerable damage to fragile coastal wetlandsdamage to fragile coastal wetlands

Aquaculture: Aquaculture: Environmental impactsEnvironmental impacts

Major environmental impacts of Major environmental impacts of aquaculture include:aquaculture include:

Damage to habitats and ecosystemsDamage to habitats and ecosystems Pollution from effluentsPollution from effluents Use of chemicals and antibioticsUse of chemicals and antibiotics

Loss of habitat and Loss of habitat and ecosystemsecosystems

A high percentage of the environmental impact A high percentage of the environmental impact of aquaculture arises from the construction of of aquaculture arises from the construction of the pondsthe ponds

Impacts include loss of habitat, interference Impacts include loss of habitat, interference with ecosystem hydrology and loss of coastal with ecosystem hydrology and loss of coastal barriersbarriers

In coastal areas large extensions of mangrove In coastal areas large extensions of mangrove forests are destroyed to conducts shrimp forests are destroyed to conducts shrimp farmingfarming

Pollution from effluentsPollution from effluents

Pollution from effluents is caused by several Pollution from effluents is caused by several sources, including:sources, including: Feed and NutrientsFeed and Nutrients ExcrementsExcrements Chemicals & antibioticsChemicals & antibiotics

Even if effluents from individual ponds fall Even if effluents from individual ponds fall within acceptable limits, the sum effect of many within acceptable limits, the sum effect of many farming activities may exceed the carrying farming activities may exceed the carrying capacity of the ecosystemcapacity of the ecosystem

Chemicals and antibioticsChemicals and antibiotics

Main chemicals used are fertilizers and Main chemicals used are fertilizers and substances used to adjust the acidity of substances used to adjust the acidity of the water (lime)the water (lime)

Antibiotics are largely used and are not Antibiotics are largely used and are not always effectivealways effective

Some improvement options:Some improvement options:

Damage to ecosystemsDamage to ecosystems: implement coastal : implement coastal zoning, use land efficientlyzoning, use land efficiently

EffluentsEffluents: reduce nutrient loads, treat : reduce nutrient loads, treat effluentseffluents

Chemicals & antibioticsChemicals & antibiotics: avoid overstocking : avoid overstocking and overfeeding, avoid prohibited and overfeeding, avoid prohibited substancessubstances

Environmental impacts can be minimized Environmental impacts can be minimized by:by:

1.1. Improving awarenessImproving awareness

2.2. Better managementBetter management

Such measures are likely also to improve Such measures are likely also to improve product quality and reduce costsproduct quality and reduce costs