Meat Eaters Guide: Methodology - Environmental Working Group

Meat Eaters Guide: Methodology
Table 1. Sources of Primary Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Item (input/output)
considered
Fertilizer for cover
crops, plant-based
foods and animal
feed
Pesticides for cover
crops, plant-based
foods and animal
feed
Lime, gypsum,
sulfur and other
soil additives – for
cover crops, plantbased
foods and
animal feed
8
Processes included
in assessment
Production; transportation
of fertilizer to
farm; application to
field
Production; transportation
of pesticide to
farm; application to
field
Production; transportation
of lime to farm;
(application to field
is included in feed
category)
Irrigation water Withdrawal and distribution
Harvested crop Harvesting and decomposition
Animal feed (corn,
soybean, alfalfa,
etc.), rice and other
crops
Other on-farm inputs
Production (pre- and
post-harvest for
plant-based feeds);
transportation to farm
Other on-farm activities
to raise animals
or grow crops
Environmental Working Group Meat Eaters Guide: Methodology 2011
Sources of GHG emissions for inputs and outputs
Electrical plant; natural gas for production; fuel combustion
during transport
Electricity and fuel for production; fuel combustion
during transport
Electricity and fuel for production; fuel combustion
during transport
Electricity
Fuel for farm equipment; N O from post-harvest
2
crop residues left on fields; N O from legumes (nitro-
2
gen fixation) and crop residues.
CO from urea (fertilizer); N O from nitrogen- fertilizer
2 2
emissions emanating from soil and water; CO from 2
lime application on soil; methane from rice production
Electricity and fuel combustion
Growing plants Plant growth Carbon storage in the biomass of perennial 8 species
such as nut trees during growth and at maturity