A Research Update Mechel S. Paggi,Fumiko Yamazaki and Sean Hurley * 52nd Annual Conference of the October 15-19, 2011 Portland, Oregon * Director & Senior Research Economist respectively, Center for Agricultural Business, California State University, Fresno, Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology; Associate Professor, Department of Agricultural Business, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. “The Contribution of Food Distribution to Greenhouse Gas Emissions: A Case Study of the Transportation of Fresh Produce,”
Importance of California Produce Means of Transportation and Destinations Some Issues with the Current System Why Look at CO 2 Examples from the Study Summary and Implications
California: Supplier of Domestic Fruits and Vegetables 98% of U.S. Table Grape Production 70% of U.S. Head Lettuce; 85% of Leaf Lettuce; 74% of Romaine 86% of U.S fresh strawberries 88 % of U.S. Broccoli 94% of U.S. Celery Etc. UC-Davis, AIC, The Measure of California Agriculture, August, 2009
Preferred Conveyance to Minimize Emissions
Atlanta GA Baltimore MD Boston MA Chicago IL Columbus OH Dallas TX Detroit MI Los Angeles CA Miami FL New York NY Philadelphia PA Pittsburg PA San Francisco CA Seattle WA St. Louis MO For Produce: Trucks Haul About 90% Of All Refrigerated Perishables With 15 Key Domestic Destinations USDA, AMS
The Heart of the Matter
Food Climate Research Network Transportation Only Part of the Issue
“Transportation as a whole represents only 11% of Life-cycle GHG emissions, and final delivery from Producer to retail contributes only 4%. “
Over the Road Miles Only Part of the Transport Story
Modal Share Celery
Mileage Chart Ship From: Fresno CASalinas CASanta Maria CAEl Centro CAOxnard CA Rancho Palos Verdes CAYuma AZAverage Ship To: Atlanta GA Baltimore MD Boston MA Chicago IL Columbus OH Dallas TX Detroit MI Los Angeles CA Miami FL New York NY Philadelphia PA Pittsburg PA San Francisco CA Seattle WA St. Louis MO Average Distances From Shipment Points 15 City Destinations Derived from USDA. Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Arrival Totals for 20 Cities, last published in Washington, D.C., Agricultural Marketing Service, FVAS-3; Smaller volume cities added to nearest major volume destinations;
Emissions Per Truck Load: Average Mileage from Shipping PointsMPG Quantity of Fuel (Total Gallons) Carbon CoefficientFraction CombustedKg/gal Emissions per Truck Load (MT CO2) Atlanta GA % Baltimore MD % Boston MA % Chicago IL % Columbus OH % Dallas TX % Detroit MI % Los Angeles CA % Miami FL % New York NY % Philadelphia PA % Pittsburg PA % San Francisco CA % Seattle WA % St. Louis MO % Emissions per Truck Load=(Quantity of Fuel x Carbon Coefficient x Fraction Combusted)/1000 Industry Sources For Rail Transport: Ton-Miles=(Arrival x Avg Weight of Shipment (lbs) x Avg Shipping Distance (mi))/2204(lbs) Total Yearly Emissions (in MT CO₂)=(Ton-Miles x (0.055 lbs CO₂ per Ton-Mile)
CELERY-TRUCK Arrivals Emissions Per Truck Load (MT CO₂) Total Yearly Emissions (MT CO₂) Atlanta GA Baltimore MD Boston MA Chicago IL Columbus OH Dallas TX Detroit MI Los Angeles CA Miami FL New York NY Philadelphia PA Pittsburg PA San Francisco CA Seattle WA St. Louis MO Total:36,267114,613 USDA/AMS Daily Movement Reports,;48-53 foot refrigerated trailers, 40,000 lb. shipment units;
CELERY-RAILAdjusted Arrival Avg Weight of Shipment (lbs.) Avg Shipping Distance (miles) MT-Miles Train Shipping Emissions Factor (lbs CO₂ per MT- Mile) Total Yearly Emission MT CO₂ Atlanta GA-40, Baltimore MD2940, ,446, Boston MA17940, ,886, Chicago IL30240, ,487, Columbus OH-40, Dallas TX-40, Detroit MI-40, Los Angeles CA-40, Miami FL-40, New York NY36040, ,506, Philadelphia PA15740, ,894, Pittsburg PA-40, San Francisco CA-40, Seattle WA-40, St. Louis MO-40, Total: 1,02740,00049,221, Ton-Miles=( Arrivals x Avg Weight of Shipment (lbs) x Avg Shipping Distance (mi))/ (lbs) Total Yearly Emissions (in MT CO₂)=(Ton-Miles x ( kg CO₂ per Ton-Mile))/1000 Source: EPA430-R
Modal Share Iceberg Lettuce
LETTUCE, ICEBERG-TRUCK Arrivals Emissions Per Truck Load (MT CO₂) Total Yearly Emissions (MT CO₂) Atlanta GA Baltimore MD Boston MA Chicago IL Columbus OH Dallas TX Detroit MI Los Angeles CA Miami FL New York NY Philadelphia PA Pittsburg PA San Francisco CA Seattle WA St. Louis MO
LETTUCE, ICEBERG-RAILAdjusted Arrival Avg Weight of Shipment (lbs) Avg Shipping Distance (mi) Ton-Miles Train Shipping Emissions Factor (lbs CO₂ per Ton- Mile) Total Yearly Emission (in MT CO₂) Atlanta GA-40, Baltimore MD140, , Boston MA440, , Chicago IL840, , Columbus OH-40, Dallas TX-40, Detroit MI-40, Los Angeles CA-40, Miami FL-40, New York NY840, , Philadelphia PA340, , Pittsburg PA-40, San Francisco CA-40, Seattle WA-40, St. Louis MO-40, Total: 24 1,137,
Modal Share Table Grapes
GRAPES, TABLE-TRUCKAdjusted Arrival Emissions Per Truck Load (MT CO₂) Total Yearly Emissions (MT CO₂) Atlanta GA Baltimore MD Boston MA Chicago IL Columbus OH Dallas TX Detroit MI Los Angeles CA Miami FL New York NY Philadelphia PA Pittsburg PA San Francisco CA Seattle WA St. Louis MO Total:42, ,558
GRAPES, TABLE-RAILArrivals Avg Weight of Shipment (lbs) Avg Shipping Distance (mi) MT-Miles Train Shipping Emissions Factor (lbs CO₂ per Ton- Mile) Total Yearly Emission (in MT CO₂) Atlanta GA-40, Baltimore MD-40, Boston MA8740, ,805, Chicago IL22340, ,482, Columbus OH-40, Dallas TX-40, Detroit MI-40, Los Angeles CA-40, Miami FL-40, New York NY19240, ,870, Philadelphia PA8240, ,123, Pittsburg PA-40, San Francisco CA-40, Seattle WA-40, St. Louis MO-40, Total:584 27,281,
Cost of C0 2 Emissions California Fresh Produce Transport California to Boston Rail = 1.4 metric tons ; Truck = metric tons; UK plans a carbon floor price of $25.09 per metric ton from April 2013*; Australia initiaitive to start at A$23; ($22 US); Current estimates in CA $11 per metric ton for initial credit value; Origin-Destination Truck Rates for Selected Routes and Commodities, 2nd Quarter 2011 California to Boston, Lettuce, $7,710 ** About 1000 cartons per load (60 lbs. per); By Truck about 12 ¢ per carton / 0.2 ¢ lb. * Reuters Oct 3, 2011, 03.51pm IST ; ** USDA/AMS Ag Refrigerated Truck Quaterly, April – June, 2011.
Summary & Implications Observations Market Demand for Variety Creates Need for Transport (Local may be desirable, but not practical for certain products) Dominance of Truck Mode Imposes a Definable Transportation Carbon Footprint Alternative Transport Scenarios Difficult if not Impossible in Foreseeable Future; Internalize Existing Costs at current value for carbon low per unit; Who Pays The Costs? Needs Better data on shipment numbers/destinations by mode. Leads to Better data & accountability to quantify the costs Development of Efficiency Options for the Existing System
Green House Gas Solutions Require Global Action