A carbon footprint measures the greenhouse gas emissions from producing a product. Carbon footprints are measured in kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent (kgCO2e) per standard portion (40 g) of edible protein in the product. Farmed salmon is an animal protein with a low carbon footprint. Choosing it over other proteins helps reduce our impact on global warming.

An average of 3.7 square meters of land are needed to produce 100g of farmed salmon, considerably less than the requirements for land-based animal proteins. The expanding global population has placed significant pressure on natural resources and the use of space on the planet. By consuming farmed salmon, we help substantially reduce this pressure.

Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) measures the kilograms of feed needed to increase an animal’s body weight by one kilogram. It is a ratio of production efficiency and the amount of natural resources needed to produce a given protein.
Farmed salmon is very efficient at feed conversion and has a significantly lower ratio than most land-based animal proteins. By consuming salmon instead of other animal proteins, we reduce pressure on natural resources.

References for all graphics
1. Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) of the United Nations Statistical Division – FAOSTAT
2. FAO of the United Nations Fisheries and Aquaculture Department – Fishery Statistical Collections
3. The Environmental Cost of Animal Source Foods
4. Reducing Food’s Environmental Impacts Through Producers and Consumers
5. Feed Conversion Efficiency in Aquaculture: Do We Measure It Correctly?
6. Atlantic Salmon. The Super Chicken of the Sea