The role of life cycle assessment in supporting sustainable agri-food systems: A review of the challenges

JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION

卷:140

Review

Notarnicola, Bruno¹  Sala, Serenella²  Anton, Assumpcio³  McLaren, Sarah J.⁴  Saouter, Erwan²  Sonesson, Ulf⁵ 

[1] Univ Bari Aldo Moro, Ionian Dept Law Econ & Environm, Via Duomo 259, I-74123 Taranto, Italy

[2] European Commiss, Joint Res Ctr, Inst Environm & Sustainabil, Via Enrico Fermi 2749,TP 290, I-21027 Ispra, VA, Italy

[3] Inst Food & Agr Res & Technol IRTA, IRTA, Carretera Cabrils,Km 2, Barcelona 08348, Spain

[4] Massey Univ, IAE, Private Bag 11222, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand

[5] SP Tech Res Inst Sweden, Food & Biosci, Box 5401, SE-40229 Gothenburg, Sweden

关键词: Food supply chains;    Food LCA;    Food waste;    Sustainable production and consumption;    Agri-food products;   

DOI  :  10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.06.071

来源: Elsevier

【 摘 要 】

Life cycle thinking is increasingly seen as a key concept for ensuring a transition towards more sustainable production and consumption patterns. As food production systems and consumption patterns are among the leading drivers of impacts on the environment, it is important to assess and improve food related supply chains as much as possible. Over the years, life cycle assessment has been used extensively to assess agricultural systems and food processing and manufacturing activities, and compare alternatives from field to fork and through to food waste management. Notwithstanding the efforts, several methodological aspects of life cycle assessment still need further improvement in order to ensure adequate and robust support for decision making in both business and policy development contexts. This paper discbsses the challenges for life cycle assessment arising from the complexity of food systems, and recommends research priorities for both scientific development and improvements in practical implementation. In summary, the intrinsic variability of food production systems requires dedicated modelling approaches, including addressing issues related to: the distinction between technosphere and ecosphere; the most appropriate functional unit; the multi-functionality of biological systems; and the modelling of the emissions and how this links with life cycle impact assessment. Also, data availability and interpretation of the results are two issues requiring further attention, including how to account for consumer behaviour. (C) 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

【 授权许可】

Free