The idea that consuming locally is necessarily more environmentally friendly now seems to be taken for granted. Fewer kilometres travelled, support for neighbouring producers, seasonality... these are all promises that appeal to a growing number of consumers. But behind this laudable intuition, the reality is sometimes more complex.
In this article, we'd like to take a step back and explore what “buying local” actually means, its real benefits, but also its limitations - while reminding you why Farm'in believes so strongly in the importance of the link between producer and consumer.
Less transport = fewer emissions? Not always.
The first argument in favour of local produce is, of course, the reduction in CO₂ emissions linked to transport. This is true... but only in part.
It's important to remember that transport rarely accounts for more than 10-15% of a food's total greenhouse gas emissions. Most of it actually comes from production itself: growing methods, use of fertilisers or heated greenhouses, water management, etc.
👉 For example, a tomato grown locally in a heated greenhouse can sometimes generate more emissions than a tomato grown in the sun in Spain, even though the latter has travelled 1 500 km.
The real gain: seasonality
What really makes a local product more sustainable is when it's in season. Eating apples in autumn, courgettes in summer or cabbage in winter means eating what nature produces at the right time, without energy-guzzling gimmicks.
Local producers often work in harmony with these natural cycles, which limits inputs (water, heating, preservatives, etc.). This is where local really rhymes with ecological.
Support small-scale farms
Buying local also means supporting small-scale farming, which is often more respectful of the soil, biodiversity and animal welfare. In Switzerland, France and Belgium, many small-scale producers adopt agro-ecological practices, sometimes without labels but with a real environmental conscience.
By buying directly from them, you cut out the middleman, encourage sustainable farming practices and promote alternatives to intensive agribusiness.
But local does not guarantee everything
Buying local does not mean that the product is organic, or even environmentally friendly in the strict sense. Some local farmers use pesticides, others import unsustainable inputs, or use intensive production methods. Local does not replace transparency.
👉 That's why it's essential to know your producer well, and it's also one of Farm'in's central missions: to create this direct link of trust and exchange between you and those who feed you.
Buying local is also political
Beyond the direct ecological impact, buying local is a political and economic act. It means relocating added value, strengthening local communities, preserving agricultural know-how and maintaining jobs that can't be relocated.
This local support has lasting repercussions, including for the environment, because well-structured short distribution channels can also limit food waste and promote agro-ecology.
Conclusion: local, yes - but aware and curious
Buying local is often a good ecological decision, especially if you favour seasonal produce, find out about farming practices, and adopt a more global approach to consumption: less waste, less packaging, more human connection.
🌱 At Farm'in, we believe in smart local. Not as an automatic reflex, but as a committed, joyful and enlightened approach. It's together, consumers and producers, that we're building a more sustainable, more humane agriculture that's more connected to the reality of our territories.