Footprinting methods for assessment of the environmental impacts of food production and processing

2010 ◽  
pp. 255-271 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Lillywhite
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Impacts ◽  
Food Production

scholarly journals Introducing a Degrowth Approach to the Circular Economy Policies of Food Production, and Food Loss and Waste Management: Towards a Circular Bioeconomy

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 3379 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Hoehn ◽  
Jara Laso ◽  
María Margallo ◽  
Israel Ruiz-Salmón ◽  
Francisco José Amo-Setién ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Waste Management ◽  
Environmental Impacts ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Food Production ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Food Loss ◽  
Use Of Resources ◽  
Assessment Approach ◽  
New Policies

There is a growing debate surrounding the contradiction between an unremitting increase in the use of resources and the search for environmental sustainability. Therefore, the concept of sustainable degrowth is emerging aiming to introduce in our societies new social values and new policies, capable of satisfying human requirements whilst reducing environmental impacts and consumption of resources. In this framework, circular economy strategies for food production and food loss and waste management systems, following the Sustainable Development Goals agenda, are being developed based on a search for circularity, but without setting limits to the continual increase in environmental impacts and resource use. This work presents a methodology for determining the percentage of degrowth needed in any food supply chain, by analyzing four scenarios in a life cycle assessment approach over time between 2020 and 2040. Results for the Spanish case study suggested a degrowth need of 26.8% in 2015 and 58.9% in 2040 in order to achieve compliance with the Paris Agreement targets, highlighting the reduction of meat and fish and seafood consumption as the most useful path.

scholarly journals In quest of reducing the environmental impacts of food production and consumption

2017 ◽  
Vol 140 ◽  
pp. 387-398 ◽  
Author(s):  
Serenella Sala ◽  
Assumpcio’ Anton ◽  
Sarah J. McLaren ◽  
Bruno Notarnicola ◽  
Erwan Saouter ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Impacts ◽  
Food Production ◽  
Production And Consumption

Environmental impacts of increasing the world's food production

1975 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 291-309 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margaret R. Biswas ◽  
Asit K. Biswas
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Impacts ◽  
Food Production

scholarly journals Supply chain integrated LCA approach to assess environmental impacts of food production in Finland

2009 ◽  
Vol 18 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 460-476 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. USVA ◽  
M. SAARINEN ◽  
J-M. KATAJAJUURI
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Environmental Impacts ◽  
Hot Spots ◽  
Food Production ◽  
Food Products ◽  
Environmental Data ◽  
Greenhouse Cucumber ◽  
Food Lca ◽  
Reported Data

A process was started in the late 1990s to produce comprehensive environmental data on particular aspects of Finnish food production with the aim of analyzing the environmental impacts (at least climate change, acidification and eutrophication and some other impacts) of products and locating hot spots in production chains. A supply chain integrated life cycle assessment was carried out on fodder barley, hard cheese, oat flakes, potato flour, cream cheese potato gratin, beer, honey-marinated/sliced broiler fillet and greenhouse cucumber. Methodological improvements in assessing environmental impacts of food products were evaluated in relation to ISO14040 and 14044 standards. Methods improved, especially regarding quality of cultivation data and previously reported data from the literature, impact assessment and calculations for assessment of leaching from agriculture. As a generic conclusion on the share of contributions of the various phases of production chains to environmental impact: agriculture was the most important phase, especially in terms of eutrophication potential. Work in food LCA methodology has provided a sound base for future development in assessing environmental impacts of food products. In the future providing more and more environmental information on products for customers and consumers is setting new challenges for research.;

scholarly journals Inspired by lipids: the Morton Lecture Award Presentation

2017 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
pp. 297-302
Author(s):  
John L. Harwood
Keyword(s):  
Energy Storage ◽  
Human Health ◽  
Environmental Impacts ◽  
Food Production ◽  
Health It ◽  
Diverse Field

Lipids are key molecules for membranes, energy storage and signalling. I have been privileged to have worked in such a diverse field and in organisms from microbes to humans. Here I will describe some of those contrasting areas which range from environmental impacts to food production and on to human health. It has been a fascinating journey which still continues to excite me.

Consideration of food wastage along the supply chain in lifecycle assessments: A mini-review based on the case of tomatoes

2016 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-39 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Karin Bernstad ◽  
Alba Cánovas ◽  
Rogerio Valle
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Supply Chain ◽  
Environmental Impacts ◽  
Food Production ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
Food Supply Chain ◽  
Total Contribution ◽  
Lca Case Studies ◽  
Food Wastage

In recent years, increased light has been shed on the large amounts of food wasted along the food supply chain (FSC). As lifecycle assessments (LCAs) are commonly used for estimations of environmental impacts from food production, it is relevant to investigate and discuss how such wastage is reflected in foodstuff LCAs. The objective of the present paper is to review a larger set of LCAs of foodstuff in order to (1) investigate if and how wastage along the FSC is addressed and (2) explore the importance of including wastage accumulated along the FSC in terms of environmental impacts. Twenty-eight LCA case studies and two review papers, focusing on tomatoes, were reviewed and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions chosen as indicator for the second objective. Only one third of the studies consider wastage at some part of the supply chain, in many cases in an inconsistent manner, and only in nine cases were GHG emissions from wastage included in overall systems GHG emissions. In these, wastage accounts for between 2 and 33% of total contribution to climate change. Omitting wastage when conducting LCA of foodstuff could result in underestimations of environmental impacts. Occurrence of wastage along all phases of the supply chain should be acknowledged in order to estimate environmental benefits from prevention and to identify areas where strategies with the aim of reducing wastage could be most efficient.

Environmental impacts of food supply and obesogenic severity worldwide

2015 ◽  
Vol 117 (12) ◽  
pp. 2863-2879 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eduardo Botti Abbade
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Impacts ◽  
Food Supply ◽  
Food Production ◽  
Ecological Footprint ◽  
Water Footprint ◽  
Ecological Impacts ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Scatter Plots ◽  
Average Body Mass ◽  
Average Body

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether the severity of obesogenic societies is associated with more significant environmental impacts, and whether these impacts are associated with the production, supply, and consumption of animal foods more so than with plant foods. Design/methodology/approach – This ecological study was based on analyses of available data regarding populations of countries throughout the world. The study analyzed indicators related to food production, food supply, the anthropometric traits of malnutrition, and ecological impacts. Data were analyzed via scatter plots and Pearson’s correlation. Findings – Food supply, when compared with food production, is more significantly associated with environmental impacts. Also, the supply of meats, when compared with the supply of cereals, has a stronger association with environmental impacts and obesogenic severity. Meat supply is strongly associated with the ecological footprint (r=0.782, p < 0.001), with CO2 emissions (r=0.602, p < 0.001), and with the water footprint (r=0.503, p < 0.001). Thus, the average body mass index (BMI) of populations worldwide is strongly associated with environmental impacts considering the ecological footprint (r=0.559, p < 0.001), and the CO2 emissions (r=0.460, p < 0.001). Practical implications – Actions that are better aligned with worldwide urgencies related to obesogenic problems, food supply/consumption, and environmental issues are needed. This study provides a better understanding about environmental and obesogenic impacts associated with food supply. Originality/value – The originality is focussed on important evidence regarding environmental and obesogenic severity strongly associated with meat supply.

scholarly journals Localisation of primary food production in Finland: production potential and environmental impacts of food consumption patterns

2008 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 127 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. RISKU-NORJA ◽  
R. HIETALA ◽  
H. VIRTANEN
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Environmental Impact ◽  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Environmental Impacts ◽  
Food Consumption ◽  
Food Production ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Organic Production ◽  
Consumption Patterns ◽  
Agricultural Land Use

The potential for and environmental consequences of localising primary production of food were investigated by considering different food consumption patterns, based on conventional and organic production. Environmental impact was assessed according to agricultural land use and numbers of production animals, both of which depend on food consumption. The results were quantified in terms of nutrient balances, greenhouse gas and acid emissions and the diversity of crop cultivation, which indicate eutrophication of watersheds, climate change and landscape changes, respectively. The study region was able to satisfy its own needs for all farming and food consumption scenarios. Dietary choice had a marked impact on agricultural land use and on the environmental parameters considered. Organic farming for local food production resulted in higher greenhouse gas emissions. Compared with mixed diets, the vegetarian diet was associated with lower emissions and nutrient surpluses, but also with reduced crop diversity. The arable areas allocated to leys and pastures were also smaller. The study area represents a predominantly rural region and is a net exporter of agricultural produce. Therefore, only part of the environmental impact of food production results from local needs. Both the differences among the dietary options and the overall environmental benefit of localised primary food production were greatly reduced when considering total agricultural production of the region. Much of the negative impact of agriculture is due to food consumption in the densely populated urban areas, but the consequences are mainly felt in the production areas. The environmental impacts of localisation of primary food production for the rural areas are small and inconsistent. The results indicate the importance of defining ‘local’ on a regional basis and including the urban food sinks in impact assessment.;

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