Spatial differentiation in Life Cycle Assessment LCA applied to an agricultural territory: current practices and method development

In most current farming system classifications (e.g. "conventional" versus "organic"), each type of farming system encompasses a wide variety of farming practices and performances. Classifying farming systems using concepts such as "ecological", "sustainable intensification" or "agro-ecology" is not satisfactory because the concepts "overlap in…def-initions, principles and practices, thus creating…confusion in their meanings, interpretations and implications". Existing classifications most often focus either on biotechnical functioning or on socio-economic contexts of farming systems. We reviewed the literature to develop an original analytical framework of the diversity of farming systems and agriculture models that deal with these limits. To describe this framework, we first present the main differences between three biotechnical types of farming systems differing in the role of ecosystem services and external inputs: chemical input-, biological inputand biodiversity-based farming systems. Second, we describe four key socio-economic contexts which determine development and functioning of these farming systems: globalised commodity-based food systems, circular economies, alternative food systems and integrated landscape approaches. Third, we present our original analytical framework of agriculture models, defined as biotechnical types of farming systems associated with one or a combination of socio-economic contexts differing in the role of relationships based on global market prices and "territorial embeddedness". We demonstrate the potential of this framework by describing six key agriculture models and reviewing key scientific issues in agronomy associated with each one. We then analyse the added value of our analytical framework and its generic character. Lastly, we discuss transversal research issues of the agriculture models, concerning the technologies required, their function in the bioeconomy, their multi-criteria and multilevel assessments, their co-existence and the transitions between them.

show abstract

“…food processing, transporting) or other sectors of activity (e.g. production of organic "waste") (Nitschelm et al 2015).…”

Section: Integrated Landscape Approachmentioning

confidence: 99%

A new analytical framework of farming system and agriculture model diversities. A review

Thérond

Duru

Roger-Estrade

et al. 2017

Agron. Sustain. Dev.

197

144

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…This type of analysis was developed to address spatial variances in ecological systems, climate, productivity, infrastructure, and transport which can affect LCA results. Spatial LCAs enable the inherent geographic differences in agricultural productivity (Nitschelm et al 2016) to be accommodated. Agricultural production differences have been found to affect the climate change impact of biofuels by up to 34% (Tabatabaie and Murthy 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparative Farm-Gate Life Cycle Assessment of Oilseed Feedstocks in the Northern Great Plains

Moeller

Sieverding

Stone

2017

Biophys Econ Resour Qual

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Alternative spatial resolution for sitedependent eutrophication LCIA based on hydrological processes has been proposed by e.g. Basset-Mens et al (2006) and Nitschelm et al (2016). This is also in line with the approach in the EU Water Framework Directive (Directive 2000/ 60/EC), which considers water management at the river basin scale.…”

Section: Spatial Variation Of Characterisation Factorsmentioning

confidence: 68%

“…Eutrophication assessment in LCA using CFs with high spatial resolution would be especially informative when systems that include cultivation at different sites are compared, as in e.g. Korsaeth et al (2014) and Lehuger et al (2009), or for determining how to optimise the geographic placement or distribution of agricultural activities to minimise environmental impacts, as proposed by Nitschelm et al (2016) and Page et al (2014). Several case studies, e.g.…”

Section: Applications and Implicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatially differentiated midpoint indicator for marine eutrophication of waterborne emissions in Sweden

Henryson

Hansson

Sundberg

2017

Int J Life Cycle Assess

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Purpose In life cycle assessment (LCA), eutrophication is commonly assessed using site-generic characterisation factors, despite being a site-dependent environmental impact. The purpose of this study was to improve the environmental relevance of marine eutrophication impact assessment in LCA, particularly regarding the impact assessment of waterborne nutrient emissions from Swedish agriculture. Methods Characterisation factors were derived using sitedependent data on nutrient transport for all agricultural soils in Sweden, divided into 968 catchment areas, and considering the Baltic Sea, the receiving marine compartment, as both nitrogen-and phosphorus-limited. These new characterisation factors were then applied to waterborne nutrient emissions from typical grass ley and spring barley cultivation in all catchments.Results and discussion The site-dependent marine eutrophication characterisation factors obtained for nutrient leaching from soils varied between 0.056 and 0.986 kg N eq /kg N and between 0 and 7.23 kg N eq /kg P among sites in Sweden. On applying the new characterisation factors to spring barley and grass ley cultivation at different sites in Sweden, the total marine eutrophication impact from waterborne nutrient emissions for these crops varied by up to two orders of magnitude between sites. This variation shows that site plays an important role in determining the actual impact of an emission, which means that site-dependent impact assessment could provide valuable information to life cycle assessments and increase the relevance of LCA as a tool for assessment of product-related eutrophication impacts. Conclusions Characterisation factors for marine eutrophication impact assessment at high spatial resolution, considering both the site-dependent fate of eutrophying compounds and specific nutrient limitations in the recipient waterbody, were developed for waterborne nutrient emissions from agriculture in Sweden. Application of the characterisation factors revealed variations in calculated impacts between sites in Sweden, highlighting the importance of spatial differentiation of characterisation modelling within the scale of the impact.

show abstract

Spatial differentiation in Life Cycle Assessment LCA applied to an agricultural territory: current practices and method development

Cited by 80 publications

References 90 publications

A new analytical framework of farming system and agriculture model diversities. A review

A new analytical framework of farming system and agriculture model diversities. A review

Comparative Farm-Gate Life Cycle Assessment of Oilseed Feedstocks in the Northern Great Plains

Spatially differentiated midpoint indicator for marine eutrophication of waterborne emissions in Sweden

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About