Environmental impacts in

food production and

processing
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 Pacific
Suva, Fiji, 7-8 June 2006

ƒ Every human activity has an impact on

the environment
ƒ Whether these impacts are positive or
negative and whether they will affect
long-term sustainability it is to a large
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?

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Agriculture

ƒ Consumption of water, energy and

natural resources

ƒ Use of pesticides

ƒ Use of fertilizers

Examples of ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF

AGRICULTURE
Materials Energy Emissions

Preparation of soil Chemicals (methyl Chemicals (methyl

bromide) bromide)

Fertilization Fertilizers Phosphate, nitrogen

Irrigation Water Energy to move

water

Crop protection Pesticides Pesticides

Packaging Packaging materials Waste materials and

chemicals

Transporting Fuel CO2

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Some improvement options:

Fertilization: optimum use of fertilizers and

growth methods = optimum condition of
the crop
Irrigation: more efficient use of water (drop-
irrigation), water re-use and well-working
drainage system
Crop protection: natural pesticides,
biological pest control, Integrated Pest
Management, biotechnology

Sugarcane

Major environmental impacts:

ƒ Soil erosion and degradation

ƒ Effluents
ƒ Solid waste, wastewater and emissions
ƒ Habitat loss

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Soil degradation

ƒ Soil preparation, especially if done by

burning, reduces the organic matter of
soils and microorganism diversity
ƒ In some cases cultivation leads to land
subsidence
ƒ Sugar processing harms the soil:
removing cane from fields reduces
fertility Æ increased use and reliance on
fertilizers

Effluents

ƒ Pesticides and fertilizers are a major

source of pollution of local water supplies

ƒ Effluents from sugarcane processing can

also negatively affect water supplies and
ecological areas

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Solid waste, wastewater
and emissions
ƒ Wastes from sugarcane production if left
to decompose in freshwater bodies
absorb oxygen and kill fish
ƒ 10 cubic meters of water per cubic meter
of cane are used to wash incoming cane
before processing
ƒ Mills produce fuel emissions, which
include soot, ash and solid substances

Habitat loss

ƒ Sugarcane is one of the most cultivated

crops in the tropic

ƒ Its extensive cultivation has caused

considerable loss of biodiverisity

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 Some improvement options:

Soil degradation: increase organic matter

(no burning), focus on more productive
areas
Effluents: Pest control & management,
reduce nutrient loading
Waste: sugar processing wastes can be
treated
Loss of habitat: eliminate burning prior to
harvest

Aquaculture

ƒ Aquaculture is the fastest-growing form

of food production in the world

ƒ Shrimp dominates aquaculture by value

ƒ Aquaculture can cause considerable

damage to fragile coastal wetlands

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Aquaculture:
Environmental impacts
Major environmental impacts of
aquaculture include:

ƒ Damage to habitats and ecosystems

ƒ Pollution from effluents
ƒ Use of chemicals and antibiotics

Loss of habitat and

ecosystems
ƒ A high percentage of the environmental impact
of aquaculture arises from the construction of
the ponds
ƒ Impacts include loss of habitat, interference
with ecosystem hydrology and loss of coastal
barriers
ƒ In coastal areas large extensions of mangrove
forests are destroyed to conducts shrimp
farming

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Pollution from effluents

ƒ Pollution from effluents is caused by several

sources, including:
ƒ Feed and Nutrients
ƒ Excrements
ƒ Chemicals & antibiotics

ƒ Even if effluents from individual ponds fall

within acceptable limits, the sum effect of many
farming activities may exceed the carrying
capacity of the ecosystem

Chemicals and antibiotics

ƒ Main chemicals used are fertilizers and

substances used to adjust the acidity of
the water (lime)

ƒ Antibiotics are largely used and are not

always effective

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Some improvement options:

Damage to ecosystems: implement coastal

zoning, use land efficiently
Effluents: reduce nutrient loads, treat
effluents
Chemicals & antibiotics: avoid overstocking
and overfeeding, avoid prohibited
substances

Environmental impacts can be minimized

by:

1. Improving awareness
2. Better management

Such measures are likely also to improve

product quality and reduce costs