Williams, A.G., Audsley, E. and Sandars, D.L. (2006)
Determining the environmental burdens and resource use in the production of agricultural and horticultural commodities.
Main Report. Defra Research Project IS0205. Bedford: Cranfield University and Defra.
Available on www.silsoe.cranfield.ac.uk, and www.defra.gov.uk
Using this paper the following have been calculated for the CO2e of various foods:
Quantity | Food | kg CO2e |
1500g | Flour | 1.2 |
6 | Eggs | 1.65 |
454g | Lamb chops | 7.72 |
350g | Pork chops | 2.24 |
750g | Chicken | 3.45 |
342g | Beef steak | 5.47 |
500g | Tomatoes | 4.70 |
1000g | Potatoes | 0.24 |
Williams, A.G., Audsley, E. and Sandars, D.L. (2006)
Determining the environmental burdens and resource use in the production of agricultural and horticultural commodities.
Main Report. Defra Research Project IS0205. Bedford: Cranfield University and Defra. Available on www.silsoe.cranfield.ac.uk, and www.defra.gov.uk
These use a GWP(100years) for methane.
This is a table of data from Adrian Williams model
Quantity | Unit | Food | kg CO2e(20) | kg CO2e(100) |
1,000 | kg dwt | Beef | 25231 | 13989 |
1,000 | kg dwt | Pig meat | 7249 | 5380 |
1,000 | kg dwt | Poultry | 3978 | 3996 |
1,000 | kg dwt | Sheep meat | 26095 | 14279 |
20,000 | eggs | Eggs | 4314 | 4206 |
10,000 | litres | Milk | 18633 | 10229 |
Using CO2e(20years) gives this update of the animal products in the table above
Quantity | Food | kg CO2e(20) |
6 | Eggs | 1.29 |
454g | Lamb chops | 11.85 |
350g | Pork chops | 2.54 |
750g | Chicken | 2.98 |
342g | Beef steak | 8.63 |
The New Scientist says
Their analysis showed that producing a kilogram of beef leads to the emission of greenhouse gases with a warming potential equivalent to 36.4 kilograms of carbon dioxide. It also releases fertilising compounds equivalent to 340 grams of sulphur dioxide and 59 grams of phosphate, and consumes 169 megajoules of energy (Animal Science Journal, DOI:
http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg19526134.500-meat-is-murder-on-the-environment.html
The Animal Science Journal says:
The present results showed that the total contributions of one beef calf throughout its life cycle to global warming, acidification, eutrophication and energy consumption were 4550 kg of CO2 equivalents, 40.1 kg of SO2 equivalents, 7.0 kg of phosphate (PO4) equivalents and 16.1 GJ, respectively.
http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1740-0929.2007.00457.x