Cost-benefit analysis is a term that is used to refer

Cost-benefit synopsis is a term that is utilize to refer to the process of comparing the benefits against the be of one or more options in order to choose the alternate which is the best or the most profitable. It entails assessing all the costs and all the benefits consequently determining the difference. In order to decide on whether to buy topically elicitd products or not to buy, one needs to carry out a comprehensive analysis of the benefits as well as the costs of much(prenominal) a move. Examples of products that whoremonger be bought locally or imported be sustenancestuffs e. g. vegetables.Buying locally means buy foodstuffs and products that ar produced within ones locality. Buying locally produced foodstuffs has its costs as well as benefits. Among the benefits of purchasing locally produced foodstuffs against non-locally produced argon that locally produced foodstuffs solicit slight vitality to produce than imported ones. (http//www. sustainabletable. org /issues/buylocal/). For instance, the supply chain from the farmer to the consumer is short unlike in imported items which collect to undergo huge distribution chains in front reaching the consumers.This leads to less environsal pollution because little transportation is inevitable to move the produce to the consumer. Processing and transportation of produce accepts a vauntingly do of fuel. This leads to more emissions of carbon monoxide and the greenhouse gases thus environmental degradation. These atomic number 18 the gases that lead to global warming. (http//www. sustainabletable. org/issues/energy/). The greenhouse gases also cause prep are harm to human health through emission of toxic by-products when they are burnt. Another benefit of buying locally produced foodstuffs is that fewer amounts of fertilizers are used in producing them.Since manures are heavy, they send word not be transported over long distances hence are used within short distances. Imported foods wo uld require artificial fertilizers and pesticides for their production since they are produced on a boastfully scale. capacious amounts of energy are expended in producing these fertilizers hence environmental degradation. Furthermore these fertilizers and pesticides have direct negative impacts on the environment in that they pollute the country and consequently water. In addition, locally produced foods require less treat and economy measures than the non-locally produced.Since their distribution distances are not long, locally produced foods drop be accessed by consumers when they are still fresh hence do not require processing or use of preservatives. On the other hand, non-locally produced foods require processing and preservation in order to make them reach the intended destinations in usable forms. Processing requires energy thus additional costs. Since local foods do not need large-scale farms to produce, the concept of organic farming can be applied. This is opposed t o non-locally produced which are technology intensive i. e.require heavy machinery and large amounts of fertilizers and pesticides to produce. Thus, in terms of energy costs, locally produced foodstuffs are more energy efficient and environmentally friendly than the non-locally produced foodstuffs. (http//www. localharvest. org/buylocal. jsp). Adopting this concept will lead to the macrocosm saving a large amount of energy that can be used elsewhere. This system is also good in that it reduces substantially the amount of greenhouse gas emissions. This is good in that effect of the gases on the environment i. e. global warming are reduced.Locally produced foods also have more benefits to the consumer than the non-locally produced. Firstly, locally produced foods can be accessed when they are still fresh hence are more nutritious. This ensures that the quality of the produce is guaranteed. Due to the fact that agricultural products are highly perishable, non-locally produced foodstu ffs need processing and preservation to alter their shelf life (http//www. sustainabletable. org/issues/buylocal/). Due to this, their quality is not guaranteed. The preservatives also alter the nutrition of the products and can also be harmful to consumers health.Processing requires energy hence fossil fuels are used which lead to environmental pollution. Another reason why consumers would favour locally produced foods to non-locally produced is that they get the products from people they recognize. Thus locally produces foodstuffs are favored to non-locally produced ones due to the above factors. The cost estimates of local foodstuffs are far less than those for non-local foodstuffs. In accordance with the above analysis, it is very cheap to produce foods locally.This is because the farmers can use sustainable production methods which have less harmful effects to the environment (http//www. localharvest. org/buylocal. jsp. ). Locally produced foods also have less energy requir ements as opposed to non-locally produced ones. This is due to the fact that less transportation and processing is necessary for locally produced foodstuffs. Based on the above facts, it is imperative to note that buying locally produced foodstuffs is much more beneficial than buying non-locally produced foods. Not unaccompanied does doing this support the fight against environmental degradation but also helps improve a peoples health. Fresh foodstuffs are nutritious good for a healthful living.This policy would also enhance reservation of the non-renewable energy sources. This policy should be adopted because it can lead to the creation of self reliant food economies and consequently promoting food self sufficiency. REFERENCES Buy Local. Retrieved on 18th April, 2008. From (http//www. sustainabletable. org/issues/buylocal/) sustainable Table healthy foods. Retrieved 18th April, 2008. From (http//www. sustainabletable. org/issues/buylocal/) Local Harvest. Retrieved on 18th April, 2008. From (http//www. localharvest. org/buylocal. jsp