Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
a “demitarian” diet of 35-40% animal proteins), and as a condition for
world food security and equity in the Agrimonde scenario (Paillard et al.,
2010).
We therefore decided to vary the share of animal products in the human
diet and calculate the resulting effect on the organic-localised scenario
described above. Figure 5 shows the effect of reducing the proportion of
animal protein in the total human diet of the Seine basin inhabitants from
the present value of 65% to a “demitarian” diet of 35-40% (NinE, 2009).
Obviously, the area's self-suffi ciency in terms of meat and milk production
can be achieved in this scenario with lower livestock density, decreasing
the total fertilisation rate of arable land and the nitrogen surplus, without
decreasing the area's cereal export capacity. With a demitarian diet, the
Seine watershed should be able to feed its population, still export about
1950 kgNkm
−2
yr
−1
as cereal, and produce sub-root water meeting the best
quality standards (Table 1 and Fig. 3).
The per capita imprint of the individual Parisian according to this or-
ganic-localised-demitarian (OrgLocDem) scenario is represented in Fig.
6. Compared with the current imprint as represented in Fig. 1, the area
required to feed the individual Parisian in this scenario is similar to that
required today, but can be mainly restricted to the surrounding traditional
hinterland of Paris. The total reactive nitrogen injected into the process
of food production is reduced to 20 kgNcapita
−1
yr
−1
compared to the 30
kgNcapita
−1
yr
−1
required in the current situation. The losses of reactive
nitrogen by soil leaching are much lower, accounting for 40% of the losses
at the fi nal consumption stage, while these losses are 300% of this value
in the current situation.
3.6 DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION
The impassioned controversy about localisation of food supply has been
very well analysed by Cowell and Parkinson (2003). The defenders of the
so-called Food-Miles movement put forward the benefi ts to be expected
from localising agriculture in terms of both food security and environmen-
tal impact. They claim that regional self-suffi ciency of food production
and consumption is more likely to increase food security than a globalised
