Chickpea Crakers – Chilli Garlic

1. Ingredient Sourcing:
   • Chickpeas as a Primary Ingredient: Chickpeas are a legume that enriches the soil with nitrogen, reducing the need for synthetic fertilizers. This contributes to sustainable agriculture by promoting soil health and reducing chemical input dependency.
   • Garlic and Chilli: These ingredients are typically grown with relatively low water and pesticide requirements, further enhancing the sustainability profile of the product.
2. Plant-Based Product:
   • The product is entirely plant-based, which inherently has a lower environmental impact compared to animal-based products. Plant-based diets are associated with lower greenhouse gas emissions, less land use, and reduced water consumption.
3. Packaging:
   • If the product uses eco-friendly or recyclable packaging materials, this would further reduce its environmental impact. Sustainable packaging options, such as biodegradable or recyclable materials, help reduce waste and the carbon footprint associated with packaging.

Low Carbon Footprint Justification:

1. Low-Emission Agriculture:
   • Chickpeas: As mentioned, chickpeas improve soil fertility and require fewer agricultural inputs. This results in lower greenhouse gas emissions during their cultivation. Compared to animal proteins, chickpeas have a much smaller carbon footprint.
   • Garlic and Chilli: Both crops typically have a relatively low carbon footprint due to their efficient growth and minimal processing requirements.
2. Minimal Processing:
   • The production process for chickpea crackers likely involves minimal processing compared to other snacks. For instance, roasting or baking processes typically require less energy than extensive processing or cooking methods used in other snack foods.
3. Transportation and Local Sourcing:
   • If the ingredients are sourced locally or regionally, this reduces the transportation-related emissions. Local sourcing minimizes the carbon footprint associated with transporting raw materials and finished products over long distances.

Scientific Explanation:

• Life Cycle Assessment (LCA):
  • A Life Cycle Assessment of plant-based products like chickpea crackers typically shows lower overall greenhouse gas emissions compared to products containing animal-based ingredients. LCAs measure the environmental impacts of a product from cradle to grave, considering factors such as raw material extraction, production, distribution, use, and disposal.
  • Chickpea Cultivation: Studies have shown that legumes like chickpeas have a lower global warming potential (GWP) due to their nitrogen-fixing ability, which reduces the need for nitrogen fertilizers, a major source of greenhouse gas emissions in agriculture .
• Carbon Sequestration:
  • The cultivation of legumes like chickpeas contributes to carbon sequestration in the soil. The root systems of legumes help in storing carbon in the soil, which offsets some of the carbon emissions associated with agricultural activities.

References:

• Plant-Based Diets and Sustainability: Studies and reports highlight the environmental benefits of plant-based diets, which contribute to lower carbon footprints and reduced environmental impact compared to diets rich in animal products .
• Sustainable Agriculture: Research on sustainable agriculture practices shows that crop rotation with legumes and other sustainable practices can significantly reduce the environmental impact of food production .