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Comparing the Sustainability of Local and Global Food Chains: A Case Study of Cheese Products in Switzerland and the UK

Author

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  • Emilia Schmitt

    (Research Institute for Organic Agriculture (FiBL), Frick CH-5070, Switzerland
    Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zürich, Zürich 8092, Switzerland)

  • Daniel Keech

    (Countryside and Community Research Institute (CCRI), Gloucester GL2 9HW, UK)

  • Damian Maye

    (Countryside and Community Research Institute (CCRI), Gloucester GL2 9HW, UK)

  • Dominique Barjolle

    (Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zürich, Zürich 8092, Switzerland)

  • James Kirwan

    (Countryside and Community Research Institute (CCRI), Gloucester GL2 9HW, UK)

Abstract

Local food has recently gained popularity under the assumption that it is more sustainable than food from distant locations. However, evidence is still lacking to fully support this assumption. The goal of this study is to compare local and global food chains in five dimensions of sustainability (environmental, economic, social, ethical and health), covering all stages of the chain. In particular, four cheese supply chains are compared in detail: a local (L’Etivaz) and global (Le Gruyère) case in Switzerland and a local (Single Gloucester) and global (Cheddar) case in the UK. A multi-dimensional perspective is adopted to compare their sustainability performance. Eight attributes of performance (affordability, creation and distribution of added value, information and communication, consumer behaviour, resource use, biodiversity, nutrition and animal welfare) are used to frame the comparative analysis. The results suggest that local cheese performs better in the field of added value creation and distribution, animal welfare and biodiversity. Global chains, by contrast, perform better in terms of affordability and efficiency and some environmental indicators. This analysis needed to be expressed in qualitative terms rather than quantified indicators and it has been especially useful to identify the critical issues and trade-offs that hinder sustainability at different scales. Cheese supply chains in Switzerland and the UK also often present hybrid arrangements in term of local and global scales. Comparison is therefore most meaningful when presented on a local (farmhouse)/global (creamery) continuum.

Suggested Citation

  • Emilia Schmitt & Daniel Keech & Damian Maye & Dominique Barjolle & James Kirwan, 2016. "Comparing the Sustainability of Local and Global Food Chains: A Case Study of Cheese Products in Switzerland and the UK," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(5), pages 1-20, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:8:y:2016:i:5:p:419-:d:69182
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    7. Sarah Velten & Julia Leventon & Nicolas Jager & Jens Newig, 2015. "What Is Sustainable Agriculture? A Systematic Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(6), pages 1-33, June.
    8. Cristiana Peano & Nadia Tecco & Egidio Dansero & Vincenzo Girgenti & Francesco Sottile, 2015. "Evaluating the Sustainability in Complex Agri-Food Systems: The SAEMETH Framework," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(6), pages 1-21, May.
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    2. Argyropoulou Maria & Argyropoulou Rachel & Folinas Dimitris & Misopoulos Fotios & Najacaj Suela, 2019. "Procurement in Short Supply Chains: Lessons Learned from the Tourism Industry," International Journal of Business and Economic Sciences Applied Research (IJBESAR), International Hellenic University (IHU), Kavala Campus, Greece (formerly Eastern Macedonia and Thrace Institute of Technology - EMaTTech), vol. 12(2), pages 72-80, December.
    3. Alessandro Bonadonna & Simona Alfiero & Massimo Cane & Edyta Gheribi, 2019. "Eating Hamburgers Slowly and Sustainably: The Fast Food Market in North-West Italy," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 9(4), pages 1-14, April.
    4. Monica-Maria Tomșa & Andreea-Ioana Romonți-Maniu & Mircea-Andrei Scridon, 2021. "Is Sustainable Consumption Translated into Ethical Consumer Behavior?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-14, March.
    5. Kamble, Sachin S. & Gunasekaran, Angappa & Gawankar, Shradha A., 2020. "Achieving sustainable performance in a data-driven agriculture supply chain: A review for research and applications," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 219(C), pages 179-194.
    6. Koen van der Gaast & Eveline van Leeuwen & Sigrid Wertheim-Heck, 2020. "City-Region Food Systems and Second Tier Cities: From Garden Cities to Garden Regions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-14, March.
    7. Agata Nicolosi & Valentina Rosa Laganà & Daniel Laven & Claudio Marcianò & Wilhelm Skoglund, 2019. "Consumer Habits of Local Food: Perspectives from Northern Sweden," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(23), pages 1-25, November.
    8. Bianca Polenzani & Chiara Riganelli & Andrea Marchini, 2020. "Sustainability Perception of Local Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Consumers’ Attitude: A New Italian Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-18, January.
    9. Doriane Desclee & David Sohinto & Freddy Padonou, 2021. "Sustainability Assessment and Agricultural Supply Chains Evidence-Based Multidimensional Analyses as Tools for Strategic Decision-Making—The Case of the Pineapple Supply Chain in Benin," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-26, February.
    10. Gianluca Brunori & Francesca Galli, 2016. "Sustainability of Local and Global Food Chains: Introduction to the Special Issue," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(8), pages 1-7, August.
    11. Zsófia Benedek & Imre Fertő & Viktória Szente, 2020. "The Multiplier Effects of Food Relocalization: A Systematic Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-18, April.
    12. Damian Maye & James Kirwan & Emilia Schmitt & Daniel Keech & Dominique Barjolle, 2016. "PDO as a Mechanism for Reterritorialisation and Agri-Food Governance: A Comparative Analysis of Cheese Products in the UK and Switzerland," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 6(4), pages 1-16, October.

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