Queensland-based chef Alejandro Cancino, producer of the plant-based meat vEEF, has committed to offsetting carbon emissions from the production of vEEF’s new pea protein-based meat.
Mr Cancino said that, despite the costs associated with ensuring carbon neutral production, he hopes other alternative protein manufacturers would consider doing the same. The company is also working to increase the quantity of Australian ingredients used in its products, as well as adding solar panels to their production facility.
Cancino says of the commitment: “The same way people are looking for health-star ratings, people in the future will be looking into the (environmental) impact (of their foods)… hopefully within the next five years, we’d like the company to be completely carbon neutral.”
While the Courier Mail article points to imported ingredients for plant-based meat generating high carbon emissions, a recent University of Oxford study disproves this framing. The study demonstrated the type of food consumed – and not the distance it travels – has the biggest impact on carbon emissions, with animal products making up seven of the 10 highest carbon-emitting foods.
READ MORE: Queensland chef Alejandro Cancino launches world’s first carbon neutral vegan beef (Courier Mail)