Save energy, wise food choice

All these technologies and so-called "food miles" - the distance the food travels from producer to consumer - bring with them implications for greenhouse-gas emissions and consequent effects on the climate.

Although eating local food according to the seasons is the most sustainable option, if this cannot be done it is important to consider how producers make the food available out of season. For example, some studies show importing items such as lettuce from abroad results in fewer emissions than freezing locally grown produce.

What does sustainable food mean?

Sustainability takes into account the process from field to plate. A key word in the sustainable food dictionary is "local" - minimising energy used in food production, transport and storage.