Chapter 7

Question 1

What are 3 reasons to eat local food?

Answer 1

• Environmental concerns
• Freshness and taste
• Community cohesion/local economies

Question 2

What is a food mile?

Answer 2

measures the environmental impact of transportation (primarily associated with GHG emissions).

Question 3

What are some limitations associated with counting food miles?

Answer 3

• Only a partial indicator
• Don’t take into account different modes of transportation
• Don’t take into account productivity differentials

Question 4

How much is food wasted each year in Canada?

Answer 4

$31 billion

Question 5

How much food waste happens on the farm?

Answer 5

10%

Question 6

What are some types of food waste?

Answer 6

Agriculture production 
Post-harvest handling and storage
Processing
Distribution 
Consumption

Question 7

How much of Canada’s fruits are imported? Vegetables?

Answer 7

On average during the last decade more than 80% of fruits and about 45% of vegetables consumed in Canada were imported

Question 8

What exports produce the highest CO2?

Answer 8

highest CO2 related emissions are fruits and vegetables, followed by grain and oil products.

Question 9

What percentage of food in America is never eaten?

Answer 9

40%

Question 10

How many Americans cannot put food on the table?

Answer 10

1 in 8

Question 11

What are some ways to decrease food waste?

Answer 11

Improved storage methods
Redistribute food 
Better food date labels
Reduce portion sizes
Launch consumer awareness campaigns

Question 12

By 2050 how many more food calories would be needed?

Answer 12

By 2050, the world will need about 60 percent more calories per year

Question 13

How far does food travel on average from farm to consumer?

Answer 13

In the United States, the most frequently cited statistic is that food travels 1,500 miles on average from farm to consumer.

Question 14

In the developing world food is wasted primarily:

Answer 14

During harvesting and storage

Question 15

The following would be considered a first step in decreasing food waste:

Answer 15

Developing better food storage systems

Question 16

Wasting food also “wastes” natural resources, including land and water.

Answer 16

True

Question 17

The amount of greenhouse gases emitted as a result of wasted food represents an amount equivalent to the largest greenhouse gas emitting country in the world.

Answer 17

False

Question 18

The “Best before” labels found on food products indicate that the food is NOT safe to eat after the date indicated.

Answer 18

False

Question 19

Local food is always the best choice in terms of cutting your contribution to greenhouse gas emissions

Answer 19

False

Question 20

In Europe feeding food waste to pigs is illegal.

Answer 20

True

Question 21

Eating local food is particularly important because over half of the energy usage in the agri-food system is attributed to transportation

Answer 21

False

Question 22

______________________________ began an initiative in Todmorden, England, called Incredible Edible, which is dedicated to growing food locally by planting on unused land throughout the community

Answer 22

Pam Warhurst

Question 23

______________________________ began a campaign called “Feeding the 5000” where 5000 meals, made from food that would have been wasted, are given away for free.

Answer 23

Tristram Stuart