PLANTdex: An index to assess the multi-dimensional environmental impact of global crop commodities

Abstract

This study presents the croP environmentaL sustAiNabiliTy index (PLANTdex), one of the first spatially explicit (5 arcmin resolution) indexes to measure environmental impacts caused by the production of sixteen crop commodities globally. PLANTdex comprises five globally standardized environmental impact intensity indicators developed from robust spatially-explicit environmental models related to climate change, water stress and terrestrial and aquatic biodiversity loss. Due to variations in PLANTdex, the index was able to differentiate production system efficiencies and environmental sensitivities, locating environmentally sustainable and unsustainable production globally. Due to PLANTdex's build, the index identified a more significant number of synergies (e.g., between biodiversity indicators) existed than trade-offs (e.g., between biodiversity-related GHG emissions and marine biodiversity loss) between indicators. The analysis identified over 32 regions that could collaborate on agricultural management strategies based on production, physical characteristics and environmental impact sensitivities that allow for the exchange of knowledge on sustainable agriculture. PLANTdex has the potential to support initiatives such as the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) and E.S.G. strategies at the due diligence stage.