Title: Contributions to a more sustainable model of food production and consumption in Portugal: an opportunity to reduce the ecological footprint of food

Authors: Miguel Viegas; Claiton José Mello; Sara Moreno Pires

Addresses: GOVCOPP (Research Unit on Governance, Competitiveness and Public Policies), Department of Economics, Management, Industrial Engineering and Tourism, Aveiro University, Aveiro, Portugal ' Development, Societies and Territories Program, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), Vila Real, Portugal ' GOVCOPP (Research Unit on Governance, Competitiveness and Public Policies), Department of Social, Political and Territorial Sciences, Aveiro University, Aveiro, Portugal

Abstract: This article evaluates the possibility of resolving three imbalances in Portugal in a single equation: reducing the food footprint, improving the trade balance, and increasing human consumption of vegetables, contributing to a healthier diet. According to our results, a reduction in the consumption of beef, achieved mainly by reducing imports, combined with an increase in the production of vegetables and cereals for baking, reduces the trade deficit by around 460 million euros per year and improves the Food Footprint by 20% in average. These goals, along with the increased consumption of vegetables, also have a positive effect on the health of Portuguese families. To achieve these objectives, it is necessary to establish new rules for the application of the common agricultural policy in Portugal.

Keywords: food footprint; agri-food trade balance; sustainable agriculture; common agricultural policy; strategic plan; Portugal.

DOI: 10.1504/PIE.2023.135570

Progress in Industrial Ecology, An International Journal, 2023 Vol.16 No.4, pp.280 - 299

Received: 22 Apr 2022
Accepted: 13 Apr 2023
Published online: 18 Dec 2023 *