Tomatoes are the second most consumed vegetable in the US and the major dietary source of the antioxidant lycopene, which has been linked to a reduced risk of heart disease and cancer. They also are a great source of vitamin C, potassium, folate, and vitamin K. Yet, much less is shared about the effect tomatoes have on the planet. So we had to ask: What is the environmental impact of tomatoes?

Tomatoes have a significant environmental impact. They have high land and pesticide requirements, which can affect soil health and cause biodiversity loss. They also have a high carbon footprint compared to other crops. Yet, the water footprint of tomatoes is low, at 180 liters per kg of produce.

In this article, we will examine the environmental impact of tomatoes from several different angles. We will go through the life-cycle of tomatoes, detailing their impact on the environment from growth to distribution to your plate to waste management. We will then compare the environmental impact of tomatoes to that of other vegetables. And, finally, we’ll share some tips with you on how you can reduce your own environmental impact and offset your own carbon emissions – both for your personal life and tomatoes-related.

Here’s How We Assessed the Environmental Impact of Tomatoes

The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is one of the ways we measure the potential environmental effects of our actions, like the consumption of tomatoes. It is a holistic assessment based on the environmental changes associated with our consumption. Those are changes in our environment that can have adverse effects on the air, land, water, fish, and wildlife or the inhabitants of the ecosystem.

“Environmental Impact: the effect that the activities of people and businesses have on the environment”

Cambridge Dictionary

Basically, all goods and services you buy – including tomatoes – leave an impact on our environment. When it comes to food in general, and tomatoes in specific, the following are key factors:

• Land requirements: Large parts of the world that were once covered by forests and wildlands are now used for agriculture. 10 million hectares of forest are destroyed annually and 50% of the world’s habitable land is now used for agriculture. This loss of natural habitat has been the main driver for reducing the world’s biodiversity. 
• Water footprint: 70% of global freshwater is now used for agricultural purposes. By assessing the water footprint of a particular food, we can determine how our limited freshwater resources are being consumed and polluted.
• Pesticide and fertilizer usage: Pesticides and fertilizers provide a range of agricultural benefits. However, numerous studies link pesticides and fertilizers to serious effects on human health, along with disruptions to vital ecosystems and the spread of aquatic dead zones.
• Carbon footprint: The carbon footprint is one of the ways we measure the effects of our human-induced global climate change. Today, food production accounts for over a quarter (26%) of global greenhouse gas emissions.
• Waste generation: Food and its packaging account for almost 45% of the materials landfilled in the US alone. And packaging sent to landfills, especially when made from plastics, does not degrade quickly or, in some cases, at all.

To understand the overall environmental impact of tomatoes, we must assess each of their key factors. This Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a tool originally developed to identify the environmental impacts of a project prior to decision-making and also helps us to evaluate the environmental impacts of tomatoes, from farm to table.

Here’s the Overall Environmental Impact of Tomatoes

All crops have an impact on the environment, as a great many resources, like land and water, are needed to produce food on a mass scale. 

Unfortunately, tomatoes have the second highest carbon footprint of any vegetable, due to their land usage and the resources used in the growing period. This means that relative to other vegetables, tomatoes are a rather high-impact choice.

So, let’s have a look at the environmental impact of each key factor of tomatoes!

These are the overall summaries of the environmental impact of tomatoes, but there is a lot more to the story. In the next few sections, we will dive deeper into each stage to illustrate to you all the important aspects of tomatoes’ environmental impact.

What Are the Land Requirements for Tomatoes

Tomatoes require a lot of land to grow, meaning that their environmental impact is quite high. As one of the most land-intensive plant-based foods, often imported from Mexico and Canada, this crop contributes to soil erosion, biodiversity loss and carbon emissions from transportation.

Growing tomatoes has a lot of variables that contribute to their environmental impact. The amount of land they use, the way in which they grow, and the amount of time they take to grow will all contribute to their environmental impact.

How do the land requirements of tomatoes impact their environmental footprint?

• What is the land usage of tomatoes: Across the globe, 12.4 million acres (5 million hectares) are used to grow tomatoes. Per 1,000 kilocalories of tomatoes, 4.21 m² of land is used, making them one of the most land-intensive plant-based foods. This is a large reason why the carbon footprint of tomatoes is high, though advancements are being made in vertical farming, to yield more crops using far less land.
• Where and how are tomatoes grown: Tomatoes are part of the Solanaceae family, and are an incredibly labor-intensive plant to grow. There are two types of tomatoes; determinate, which grow on bushes, and indeterminate, which grow on vines. The US is the second largest producer of tomatoes, after China. The majority of US-grown tomatoes are harvested in Florida and California, with California accounting for 95% of processed tomatoes. However, only 40% of fresh tomatoes consumed in the US are grown domestically, with the remaining 60% being imported from Mexico and Canada. Labor shortages in the US means that more tomatoes are imported as opposed to grown domestically. This international transport impacts the carbon footprint in a negative way. 
• How does the growing of tomatoes affect soil fertility and erosion: Tomatoes are grown in sandy soils, so the potential for soil erosion is far higher when growing tomatoes than when growing other crops, such as cereals or oilseed. This negatively impacts the environmental footprint of tomatoes, as soil erosion reduces the fertility of soil and can lead to flooding and water pollution.
• How does the tomato industry affect the loss of habitable land: Overall, agriculture uses 44% of the planet’s habitable land, with two-thirds of this being used for grazing livestock. This means, overall, 14.7% of habitable land is used to grow crops. Since tomatoes are a land-intensive crop, compared to other plant-based foods, the tomato industry can have a negative impact on the loss of habitable land.
• How does the tomato industry affect wildlife and biodiversity: The tomato industry, like any other farming industry, has a negative impact on wildlife. Small creatures like mice, rabbits, birds, and insects are often displaced or killed in the harvesting process. Moreover, the use of pesticides when growing tomatoes can contaminate habitats, leading to degradation and the population decline of amphibians, birds and pollinators.

In short, compared to other crops, the land requirements of tomatoes negatively affect the overall environmental impact. They require lots of land to grow, which can lead to soil erosion, as well as loss of habitable land and biodiversity.

What Is the Water Footprint of Tomatoes

Overall, tomatoes have a relatively small global average water footprint of 180 liters per kilo of produce. They require irrigation, in a lot of cases, which has a negative impact on freshwater and ocean pollution. However, in comparison to other crops, they are not overly water-intensive.

Water usage is one of the most important factors in the environmental impact of a fruit or vegetable. The amount of water used, as well as the way they affect the water sources around them, are all major contributing factors. Here, we will look at these different angles of tomatoes’ water impact.

How does the water footprint of tomatoes impact their environmental footprint?

• What is the overall water usage of tomatoes: On average, 18.4 gallons of water are needed to grow 1 pound of tomatoes. Since plants in hot climates transpire far more than those in colder climates, tomatoes grown in cooler temperatures use a lot less water. This is a relatively low amount of water in comparison to other fruits and vegetables, such as soybeans, which require almost 10 times the amount of water.
• What is the green water footprint of tomatoes: The green water footprint is the amount of water from precipitation stored in the soil and used by plants for growth. The global average green water footprint of tomatoes is 108 cubic meters per ton, one of the lowest out of the over 200 foods studied. This means their environmental impact is low.
• What is the blue water footprint of tomatoes: The blue water footprint is the amount of water sourced from surface (such as rivers or lakes) or groundwater resources. The global average blue water footprint of tomatoes is 63 cubic meters per ton, which is relatively low compared to most of the other 200 foods studied. This means they have a rather small impact on the environment.
• What is the gray water footprint of tomatoes: The gray water footprint is the amount of freshwater required to clean up water pollution to meet certain quality standards. Essentially, it’s the amount of water needed to make polluted water clean enough to be safe and healthy for humans and the environment. The global average gray water footprint of tomatoes is 43 cubic meters per ton, one of the lowest out of the over 200 foods studied, meaning tomatoes have a low gray water footprint.
• How does the tomato industry affect freshwater and ocean pollution: In California, tomatoes have to be watered using irrigation systems to meet the crop water use or crop evapotranspiration (ETc) requirements of processing tomatoes. Intensive irrigation can impact freshwater and ocean pollution by increasing erosion and transporting pesticides and heavy metals into water supplies. As well as this, it can cause a buildup of the toxic metal, selenium, and decrease the amount of water that flows naturally in streams. Therefore, the irrigation of tomatoes has a negative impact on water pollution. 

In short, tomatoes have a relatively small water footprint compared to other crops. However, the intensive farming of any crop will negatively affect the environment.

What Is the Agrochemical Usage for Tomatoes

Tomatoes tend to require agrochemicals, such as pesticides, and nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilizers. This vegetable can be vulnerable to disease and crop failure, so compared to other crops, the agrochemical use can be significant. Thus, the environmental impact is relatively high.

Pesticides and fertilizers are agrochemicals that can have a significant impact on the environment. They both require resources to create as well as have effects on the life around them. Here, we will look at how tomatoes’ pesticide and fertilizer rates affect their environmental impact.

How does the agrochemical usage of tomatoes impact their environmental footprint?

• What is the pesticide usage of tomatoes: Tomatoes are found to have the 12th highest pesticide usage out of any fruit and vegetable in the US. An average tomato has 4 different pesticides used on it, and some have up to 15. Pesticides produce carbon emissions through their manufacturing, transportation, and application to crops, so tomatoes are a high-impact crop in this regard. A move towards vertical farming would require less pesticides. To lessen the environmental impact of tomatoes, opt for organic produce.
• What is the fertilizer usage of tomatoes: Compared to other vegetables, tomatoes often use more fertilizer, particularly nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. However, nitrogen fertilizer, which is particularly bad for the environment, is only used sparingly on tomatoes, as it can impact growth.
• Are there any known issues connected to the agrochemical usage for tomatoes: Most varieties of tomatoes that are sold commercially tend to be highly sensitive to disease and vulnerable to crop failure. Because of this, many agrochemicals are used to increase yield. This can lead to adverse environmental and health impacts because of the toxic chemical deposits, and water and air pollution.

In short, tomatoes are a relatively vulnerable crop, meaning that agrochemicals are often used, which negatively impact the environment.

What Is the Carbon Footprint of Tomatoes

Tomatoes have a relatively high carbon footprint of 0.82 kg (1.8 lbs) CO₂e per pound of produce. The main factor for these emissions is agriculture, which accounts for 94.53% of the overall carbon footprint of tomatoes, because of the large amount of land needed to grow this crop.

Carbon footprint is one aspect of the overall environmental impact of a fruit or vegetable. It essentially measures how much carbon or other greenhouse gasses the production of tomatoes emits into the atmosphere. Emissions from product manufacturing, irrigation, transportation fuel, and landfills all add up to create the overall carbon footprint of a fruit or vegetable. Let’s see how the carbon footprint of tomatoes breaks down and contributes to their environmental impact.

How does the carbon footprint of tomatoes impact their environmental footprint?

• What is the overall carbon footprint of tomatoes: The overall carbon footprint of tomatoes is 0.82 kg (1.8 lbs) CO₂e per pound of produce, which is relatively high for vegetables. Out of the ten most popular vegetables, tomatoes have the second highest carbon footprint.
• What are the main contributors to the carbon footprint of tomatoes: The main factors that contribute to the carbon emissions of tomatoes are the amount of land needed to grow this vegetable, as well as high pesticide requirements.
• Which life-cycle stage of tomatoes has the highest carbon footprint: The growing stage of tomatoes is 0.77 kg (1.7lb) CO₂e per pound of produce. This makes up an enormous 94.53% of the overall carbon footprint of tomatoes. They require a lot of land, which means that they are not the most sustainable crop to grow.

In short, compared to other vegetables, tomatoes have a very high carbon footprint. This means that they have a large impact on the environment. Because tomatoes are the most consumed vegetable, the scale of tomato consumption is high, and thus, the carbon emissions released when growing tomatoes are even higher.

What Is the Waste Generation of Tomatoes

A massive 31% of fresh tomatoes are wasted annually, which is the equivalent of each person in the country throwing out 21 tomatoes a year. For every pound of food waste, 1.13 kg (2.5 lbs) of CO₂e is emitted. More research needs to be undertaken on the overall impact of the End-of-Life stage of tomatoes, but buying loose produce and composting tomato waste are steps that we, as individuals, can take to reduce the carbon footprint.

When fruit and vegetable waste, either packaging or organic materials, is disposed of, it can have a major impact on the environment. Whether it’s damaging wildlife, getting into oceans, emitting methane, or dissolving into microplastics that contaminate groundwater, all these materials have their part to play. In this section, we will look at how tomatoes’ waste affects the environment.

How does the waste generation of tomatoes impact their environmental footprint?

• What is the packaging of tomatoes: There are many methods of packaging tomatoes, including cardboard cartons, plastic boxes, plastic wrap, wooden crates, or cardboard boxes. Processed tomatoes are also packaged in a variety of ways, from aluminum cans to plastic bottles and glass jars. The most eco-friendly choice is to buy loose tomatoes, which have been packed in biodegradable boxes.
• How is the packaging of tomatoes disposed of: Some retailers, such as British-based Marks and Spencer, are moving closer towards fully recyclable cardboard cartons for tomatoes. Most plastic film, or plastic cartons are difficult, if not impossible, to recycle. Choosing loose produce will reduce the harm of plastic waste and the need for recycling resources. Interestingly, studies are being made into using tomato waste as bio-lacquers for food packaging, which aims to reduce packaging waste of other products. 
• How are tomatoes disposed of: Unfortunately up to 86.7% of tomatoes are thrown away due to appearance, before even reaching stores. The resources used to grow these crops just to discard them are enormous, and negatively impact the carbon footprint of tomatoes. To reduce this waste, the demand for ‘wonky fruit and veg’ has been rising. Buying imperfect produce will lead to farmers throwing away fewer crops. Tomatoes are completely compostable, though food waste in landfill is a big problem for the environment.

In short, food and plastic waste contribute to our planet’s carbon footprint. Steps can be taken to reduce your individual waste, through buying loose produce and not over-consuming or throwing out tomatoes.

What Have Been Historical Environmental Issues Connected to the Tomato Industry

Historically, the tomato crop has been linked to colonization, with tomatoes being brought to Europe from the Americas by the Spanish Empire. Today, the tomato industry makes up 15% of all vegetable production worldwide. Unfortunately, as well as the negative impacts that tomato farming has on the environment, there are many forced labor and human trafficking concerns linked to the tomato industry.

All fruits and vegetables have had a complex road toward global distribution. They originate in one part of the world and often travel far to end up in your local supermarket. From farm to table, some of our favorite vegetables have racked up some serious environmental damage along the way. Whether it’s deforestation to meet demand, water pollution, or disruption of wildlife, most crops have left a path of destruction. Let’s see how tomatoes have fared throughout history. 

What have been the key environmental issues of the tomato industry?

• How much land has been lost because of tomato production: Tomatoes were first cultivated in the South American Andes in 500 BC, before spreading across Europe in the 16th century. The industry is now the world’s twelfth most profitable crop or livestock product, worth $87.9 billion annually. In the industrialization of tomatoes, over 5 million hectares of land are used to grow this crop around the world.
• Which wildlife species have been negatively impacted or displaced because of tomato production: In the cultivation and harvest of any crop, many small animals like mice, rabbits, and insects will be displaced or killed by the harvesting equipment. Tomato plants are not known to have a negative impact on wildlife but the pesticides used on them can affect surrounding ecosystems. 
• Have water sources and soil been contaminated because of tomato production: Many studies have been done into the impact of irrigating tomato plants with wastewater, the general consensus being that there is no impact on the vegetable. However, this can cause a buildup of toxic heavy metals in the soil, which has a negative impact on the environment.
• Other known historical issues: The tomato industry has been known to be rife with humanitarian issues, such as slave labor used on tomato farms in Italy and Mexico. According to an investigation by Medium, laborers work up to “14 hours a day for meager pay, under the eye of a network of gangmasters who make excessive deductions or charge inflated rates for transport, accommodation, food and other ‘services’. Those complaining can face violence and intimidation.” Thanks to campaigning from the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, every fast-food corporation in the US, besides Wendy’s, has signed the Fair Food agreement. This agreement has been implemented on 90% of Florida’s tomato fields, leading to the eradication of slavery for tens of thousands of workers.

In short, the global consumption of tomatoes can have a negative impact on the environment, but thankfully there has been campaigning against the modern slavery that blights the industry.

What Is the Overall Environmental Impact of Food and Agriculture

Food production in general has a significant impact on the environment. It is the cause of a great deal of pollution, loss of biodiversity, land and water use. The table below breaks down the overall environmental impact of the agriculture industry.

Livestock accounts for the vast majority of non-human mammal and bird biomass. Mammal livestock outweighs wild mammals by a factor of 15-to-1, and poultry livestock outweighs wild birds by a factor of more than 3-to-1.

These statistics highlight the need for sustainable and responsible practices in food production to reduce its impact on the environment. And the need for us to shift toward more environmentally-friendly foods.

How Can You Reduce Your Environmental Impact and Offset Your Personal Carbon Footprint

There are a few things you can do to mitigate some of the negative environmental effects of consuming tomatoes, while still enjoying them. You can also consider offsetting your personal and tomato-related carbon emissions, which work to remove carbon emissions elsewhere that are then attributed to you. Here, we will walk you through how to accomplish both of these things.

How Can You Reduce Your Environmental Impact When Shopping for Tomatoes

In this section, we give you a short list of ways you can reduce the negative environmental effects of tomatoes, based on those parts of the life-cycle of tomatoes that would otherwise most negatively impact the environment:

1. Opt for packaging free produce: If you are unable to find loose tomatoes, choose cardboard-based packaging as opposed to plastic. Plastic waste is hard to recycle and creates an abundance of issues for the environment.
2. Buy locally: Driving up demand for local produce reduces food miles and lessens greenhouse gas emissions. Making sure to buy tomatoes grown in the US, instead of imported from other countries, will have a positive impact.
3. Get creative with leftovers: Try not to over-consume in the first place, but if you find yourself with extra tomatoes, make sauces, salsas, purees, pickles, or other recipes that preserve them. This will help reduce your carbon footprint in terms of food waste. If you are stuck for ideas, here are some recipes that might inspire you. 

Following some of these methods can really help you to cut down on your environmental impact of eating tomatoes. None of these will completely eradicate these negative impacts, since there are always effects that may be outside of your control. But some reduction is always better than nothing!

Which Organizations Can You Support to Help Alleviate Your Environmental Impact

While tomatoes can cause a wide range of environmental damage, there are also some organizations that help you reduce parts of your impact that would otherwise be outside of your control. These organizations are working hard to prevent and reverse damage to the environment caused by industries like tomato agriculture.

In the table below are some of the best environmental charities that work in the areas where tomatoes production has affected the environment – and beyond:

Though it is helpful to reduce the environmental impact of your personal tomato consumption, supporting these organizations takes your positive impact a step further. You will be reaching far beyond your own consumption impacts and helping to build a better world for everyone!

How Can You Offset Your Personal Carbon Footprint

The carbon footprint is a key part of your environmental impact. And it is one of the ways we measure the effects of our human-induced global climate change. Yes, even from eating tomatoes!

“Carbon footprint: the amount of greenhouse gasses and specifically carbon dioxide emitted by something (such as a person’s activities or a product’s manufacture and transport) during a given period”

Merriam Webster

Basically, it is the amount of carbon emitted by you as an individual or an organization providing you with goods and services – including tomatoes:

• This includes GHG emissions from producing the products that we use and foods that we eat (e.g., power plants, factories or farms, and landfills)
• GHG emissions from fuel that we burn directly or indirectly (e.g., logistics and transportation, cooling or heating facilities),
• as well as the GHG emissions attributed to how we consume these products and foods.

Carbon offsets are reductions in carbon emissions that are used to compensate for carbon emissions occurring elsewhere – for example for the carbon emissions that are associated with tomatoes. They are measured in tons of CO₂ equivalents and are bought and sold through international brokers, online retailers, and trading platforms on what is known as the global carbon offset market. 

“Carbon Offset: a way for a company or person to reduce the level of carbon dioxide for which they are responsible by paying money to a company that works to reduce the total amount produced in the world, for example by planting trees”

Oxford Dictionary

In terms of tomatoes – and indeed all food types – there will always be a carbon footprint, because of the resources it takes to get your food from farms to the place where you’ll eventually eat them. And while there are ways to reduce your carbon footprint when shopping for tomatoes, carbon offsets would be a way to reduce your CO₂e emissions all the way down to net zero (or even to become climate positive).

However, when you purchase carbon offsets, it’s important that they actually make a difference in offsetting (aka reducing) total carbon emissions. To achieve that, the following are key criteria:

• Carbon offset projects have to be effective (different projects have different effectiveness rates)
• Carbon offset projects have to be additional
• Carbon offset projects have to be permanent
• The claims from carbon offset projects have to be verifiable

To find the best carbon offsets for you personally, check out our full guide on the best carbon offsets for individuals, where you’ll also learn more about how these carbon offset projects work, what their respective offsetting costs are, and what your best way would be to offset your own carbon emissions.

Final Thoughts

Since tomatoes use a lot of land and agrochemicals, they are a rather unsustainable crop to grow. Though there are lots of choices of fruits, vegetables, nuts, and pulses that produce less carbon emissions, it is unlikely that everyone will avoid the planet’s favorite vegetable! By being aware of the environmental impact of tomatoes, you are in a better place to make reductions in food and packaging waste, and consciously consume. Try to reduce or offset your personal carbon footprint, so that you can enjoy a tomato dish in the most sustainable way possible.

Stay impactful,

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