A multilevel carbon and water footprint dataset of food commodities
Author(s)
Date Issued
2021
Type
article
Volume
8
Issue
127
Journal
Abstract
Informing and engaging citizens to adopt sustainable diets is a key strategy for reducing global
environmental impacts of the agricultural and food sectors. In this respect, the frst requisite to support
citizens and actors of the food sector is to provide them a publicly available, reliable and ready to
use synthesis of environmental pressures associated to food commodities. Here we introduce the
SU-EATABLE LIFE database, a multilevel database of carbon (CF) and water (WF) footprint values of
food commodities, based on a standardized methodology to extract information and assign optimal
footprint values and uncertainties to food items, starting from peer-reviewed articles and grey
literature. The database and its innovative methodological framework for uncertainty treatment
and data quality assurance provides a solid basis for evaluating the impact of dietary shifts on global
environmental policies, including climate mitigation through greenhouse gas emission reductions.
The database ensures repeatability and further expansion, providing a reliable science-based tool for
managers and researcher in the food sector.