Total ecological footprint of food production per person

Calculation

All human activities that require a bioproductive area are summed. Values per areas (different agroecological zones) are scaled proportionally to their biological productivity resulting in a comparable unit of analysis - the global hectare.

Definition

The combined land appropriation for producing agricultural, livestock, fishery and aquaculture, and timber products as well as the greenhouse gas emissions and built-up surfaces including roads, factories, and cities linked to that production. A higher value is worse, indicating higher ecological impact.

Relevance

This account-based system of indicators facilitates the quantification of natural resources appropriated by the production or consumption choices across countries.