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Consumer Information about PCF
Table 3
Name
Overview on the average greenhouse gas emissions connected to the production of different
types of meat, cereals, vegetables and dairy. Source: GEMIS 2009 (www.gemis.de)
Greenhouse gas potential [kg CO2e/kg]
Meat
Bovine 13.96
Pig 3.25
Poultry 3.48
Cereals 0.78
Vegetables 0.14
Dairy 8.20
It has to be kept in mind that the production of milk products is also connected to relatively
high greenhouse gas emissions. The average greenhouse gas emission of milk production
ranges from 0,5 to 1,65 kg CO2e/kg milk, depending on the content of fat, the system
boundaries and the cultivation (organic or conventional). The more the milk is converted, the
more the CO2e emissions increase. For example, the greenhouse gas emission of butter
varies between 22 and 23 kg CO2e/kg (cf. milk 0,5-1,65kg CO2/kg). Furthermore, the
production of milk is correlated with the cattle breeding. A female cow has to be reared two
years to become a heifer that can become in calf and thereupon gives milk. During
upbringing, the cow also emits methane, and the production of the feed issues greenhouse
gases. Therefore, the milk production has to include the breeding in the calculation of the
greenhouse gas potential.
Additionally, the milk production is linked with the output of meat: the cow has to calve in
order to be able to give milk and the majority of the calves (all male calves, part of female
calves) are processed as meat and do not stay in milk production.
Organic farming
The little information available concerning greenhouse gas emissions associated with
organic farming throughout the EU 27 complicates the compilation of any sustainability
potential, loading it with uncertainties. Therefore, no GHG reduction potential for increased
organic share can be assumed.
Recently, there were some studies carried out by FiBL (2009) that explicitly compared
conventional with organic agriculture. Their results point out that organic agriculture in
general has lower greenhouse gas emissions than conventional agriculture. Therefore, PCF
would point in the “right direction”, even though it is a very limited approach. For example,
the organic agriculture claims more land for cultivation and animal husbandry (IÖW 2008).
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