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ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS FROM SHORTENING SOYBEAN MEAL DELIVERY CHAIN IN LATVIA
Abstract
There is a substantial deficit in proteins of plant origin in the EU countries ? the selfsufficiency level in feed use of soybean meal, which is one of the best plant protein sources, reaches only 5%. It causes the EU to import large quantities of soybeans (~14 million tonnes) and soybean meal (~18 million tonnes), the majority of which comes from Argentina and Brazil, resulting in very long soya delivery chain and associated GHG emissions from its transportation. At the same time, different statistical data confirm the growth tendency in the EU soya production ? the area under soya in the EU-28 countries was 971 thousand ha in 2018, compared to 438 thousand ha in 2010, also the total production of soybean meal from EU soybeans has doubled. The interest in the production of local GMO-free soya has been growing also in Latvia, indicating the potential to shorten the soybean meal delivery chain in Latvia. Furthermore, there is a political support for the development of the growing of protein crops in the EU. The objective of the paper is to evaluate the environmental benefits arising from the growing of soya in Latvia with respect to the potential GHG emission reduction due to shorter delivery chain. The environmental benefits are evaluated by assessing the CO2 emissions from maritime transport and their external cost. Typical sea distance between South America and Rotterdam and between Rotterdam and Riga is used to asses the emissions from maritime transport. The emissions are assessed based on the estimated average emissions per tonne-kilometre. The results of the study imply that the environmental benefits from shortening the delivery chain are sufficient to consider it as a feasible option for dealing with the GHG emissions in transport sector. The findings of the research outline the environmental benefits not only for Latvia but also for the EU.
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