Food: greenhouse gas emissions linked to imports on the rise in France

Europe 1 with AFP 12:07 p.m., January 25, 2024

According to a report from the High Council for the Climate, published in full mobilization of farmers, "46% of food emissions are imported emissions", or 63 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent, compared to 42% in 2010 (61 million tonnes).

Imports thus reach "40 to 50%" of the most consumed vegetables in France, and the share of imported fruits, fish and shellfish is also high, details the High Council for the Climate (HCC).

"Moreover, 20% of beef and 30 to 40% of pork or poultry consumed in France are imported", underlines the independent organization, according to which "in 20 years, imports of meat and poultry preparations have been multiplied by more than four", to "partly meet the demand of the food industry" and catering.

Cattle, the main source of direct emissions from livestock farming

Livestock farming alone is responsible for 59% of agricultural emissions, a sector which itself accounted for 18% of France's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in 2021. The food system in its together represents 22% of the overall carbon footprint of the French, according to the HCC.

Cattle are the main source of direct emissions from livestock farming (83%), which are mainly due to the methane that cows produce by burping and the management of their excrement.

Livestock emissions decreased by 15% between 1990 and 2021, but this decline mainly results from a reduction in livestock numbers due to the “socio-economic difficulties of the sector”, notes the independent organization.

The HCC recommends eating fewer animal products

Livestock breeding is regularly singled out for its significant greenhouse gas emissions, and in May 2023 the Court of Auditors recommended “defining a strategy to reduce” the number of cows raised in France.

“It would be of no use to give instructions on the rate of reduction of the cattle herd because if consumption does not decrease in parallel, this increases imports,” said Marion Guillou, member of the High Council, at a press conference. for the climate.

“Today, the carbon weight of imports from countries outside the European Union is greater than the carbon weight of European beef production,” she stressed, at a time when the EU is negotiating trade agreements with several countries (Australia, Vietnam, Chile, Mercosur countries).

The HCC instead recommends starting by eating fewer animal products: a reduction in consumption of at least 30% would help halve agricultural emissions by 2050.