Ejercicio Text 2 - 2 · Inglés PAU Extremadura Extraordinaria 2025

Text 2: Avocado toast: a guilty pleasure?

The environmental impact of avocados came into the spotlight recently by celebrity gardener Alan Titchmarsh—so should we all be cutting down on the nutritious tropical fruit? Titchmarsh is alarmed at the high carbon footprint of avocados, saying that when it comes to breakfast choices, people should consider cereals such as cornflakes instead.

Other experts have suggested that the picture is not quite as simple as it is made out—and that the popular millennial breakfast snack might not be as problematic as people imagine. The reason avocados are problematic is that they have a carbon footprint five times higher than a banana but also need twice the amount of water required to grow an apple. Avocado production is notably more water-intensive compared to many other crop foods. According to the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, producing one kilogram of avocados requires around 650 litres of water. However, the water footprint of animal products is even higher, with pork requiring around 6,000 litres per kilogram and beef using approximately 16,700 litres per kilogram.

Another concern is transportation. Perishable items such as avocados require specialized handling to maintain quality throughout transit. Cargo flights from Nairobi to Frankfurt, as well as other European destinations, help ensure produce reaches its destination quickly, minimizing spoilage. All these factors increase pollution and carbon emissions, not to mention the price of products.

Other organisations in the industry pointed out that avocado farming practices have evolved—with most fruit now coming from areas with no rainforest. A World Avocado Organisation spokesman told reporters: “While we appreciate and respect Alan Titchmarsh's concerns about sustainability and acknowledge his expertise as a respected gardener, it is important to note that his area of expertise does not extend to the avocado industry.” Mark Everett, avocados director at Worldwide Fruit, said in response to Titchmarsh's claims: “We have not sourced a box of avocados from Mexico in the last 12 months, with most of our supply coming from drier regions of the world where there has been no rainforest. Actually, where our suppliers have established avocado farms in Peru and Chile, they are classified as a carbon sink—a system that absorbs more carbon from the atmosphere than it releases—and aid biodiversity”.

Source: Daily Mail (adapted). March 2025.

2. Answer 2 of the following 3 questions with one or two sentences. Use your own words as far as possible. Marks: 2 points (1 point per correct answer).

A.

What are the environmental risks of avocados?

B.

Why is transportation a major concern with avocados?

C.

What reasons do avocado producers give to refute Titchmarsh's claims?