Tackling food waste
I can explain which foods have the highest carbon footprint and suggest choices that can lower this.
Tackling food waste
I can explain which foods have the highest carbon footprint and suggest choices that can lower this.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Food production is responsible for about one-quarter of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions.
- The highest carbon footprint per kilogram of food product comes from meat: beef, lamb then dairy top the list.
- Most food travels by boat not air.
- Wasting less food and lowering demand reduces carbon emissions.
Keywords
Emissions - An emission is something that is released into the world. An example is the release of carbon dioxide when we breathe out.
Carbon footprint - A carbon footprint is a measure of the total amount of greenhouses gases that are released as a result of our actions.
Food miles - Food miles measure the distance between where a food is grown or made to where it is eaten.
Greenhouse gas - Greenhouse gases are gases in Earth’s atmosphere that trap heat.
Common misconception
Children might be under the impression that all agricultural crops are grown for human consumption.
In fact the vast majority of European cereal crop production is used to feed animals (and create biofuels, rather than feeding people.
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
Lesson video
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Starter quiz
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