Every process in the US meat supply chain is linked to greenhouse gas emissions, according to research from the Universities of Michigan and Minnesota, published in the journal Nature Climate Change.

The research examines the environmental impacts of the supply chain associated with US beef and pork and chicken consumption. Specifically, the researchers found that more than 11 million tons of meat are consumed in 3,531 US cities each year. This equates to the emission of 329 million tonnes of carbon dioxide, a number similar to the emissions resulting from electrifying a house.

The research also finds significant geographic variation in emissions by location. In fact, the correlation between meat consumption per capita and environmental footprint is low, as it has been identified that each stop and product along this supply chain has its own processes and carbon footprint.

For example, the beef consumed in Los Angeles, the second largest city in the US, is processed in facilities located in ten counties. But these facilities receive animals from 469 counties, which are fed feed from 828 different counties. So it follows that every stage of this long chain involves emissions, from the use of fertilizers on feed crops to waste management on farms and long-distance transport.

The researchers point out that measures such as reducing food waste and dietary changes could halve emissions.

The Greek lecturer and researcher of Geospatial Data at the University of Michigan, Dimitrios Gounaridis, also participated in the study.