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Gaffey J, Collins MN, Styles D. Review of methodological decisions in life cycle assessment (LCA) of biorefinery systems across feedstock categories. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 358:120813. [PMID: 38608573 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.120813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Revised: 01/14/2024] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024]
Abstract
The application of life cycle assessment (LCA) to biorefineries is a necessary step to estimate their environmental sustainability. This review explores contemporary LCA biorefinery studies, across different feedstock categories, to understand approaches in dealing with key methodological decisions which arise, including system boundaries, consequential or attributional approach, allocation, inventory data, land use changes, product end-of-life (EOL), biogenic carbon storage, impact assessment and use of uncertainty analysis. From an initial collection of 81 studies, 59 were included within the final analysis, comprising 22 studies which involved dedicated feedstocks, 34 which involved residue feedstocks (including by-products and wastes), and a further 3 studies which involved multiple feedstocks derived from both dedicated and secondary sources. Many studies do not provide a comprehensive LCA assessment, often lacking detail on decisions taken, omitting key parts of the value chain, using generic data without uncertainty analyses, or omitting important impact categories. Only 28% of studies included some level of primary data, while 39% of studies did not undertake an uncertainty or sensitivity analysis. Just 8% of studies included data related to dLUC with a further 8% including iLUC, and only 14% of studies considering product end of life within their scope. The authors recommend more transparency in biorefinery LCA, with justification of key methodological decisions. A full value-chain approach should be adopted, to fully assess burdens and opportunities for biogenic carbon storage. We also propose a more prospective approach, taking into account future use of renewable energy sources, and opportunities for increasing circularity within bio-based value chains.
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Affiliation(s)
- James Gaffey
- School of Engineering and AMBER, University of Limerick, Limerick, V94 T9PX, Ireland; Circular Bioeconomy Research Group, Shannon Applied Biotechnology Centre, Munster Technological University, Tralee, V92 CX88, Ireland.
| | - Maurice N Collins
- School of Engineering and AMBER, University of Limerick, Limerick, V94 T9PX, Ireland
| | - David Styles
- University of Galway, University Road, Galway, H91 REW4, Ireland
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2
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Ran Y, Cederberg C, Jonell M, Bergman K, De Boer IJM, Einarsson R, Karlsson J, Potter HK, Martin M, Metson GS, Nemecek T, Nicholas KA, Strand Å, Tidåker P, Van der Werf H, Vanham D, Van Zanten HHE, Verones F, Röös E. Environmental assessment of diets: overview and guidance on indicator choice. Lancet Planet Health 2024; 8:e172-e187. [PMID: 38453383 DOI: 10.1016/s2542-5196(24)00006-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
Comprehensive but interpretable assessment of the environmental performance of diets involves choosing a set of appropriate indicators. Current knowledge and data gaps on the origin of dietary foodstuffs restrict use of indicators relying on site-specific information. This Personal View summarises commonly used indicators for assessing the environmental performance of diets, briefly outlines their benefits and drawbacks, and provides recommendations on indicator choices for actors across multiple fields involved in activities that include the environmental assessment of diets. We then provide recommendations on indicator choices for actors across multiple fields involved in activities that use environmental assessments, such as health and nutrition experts, policy makers, decision makers, and private-sector and public-sector sustainability officers. We recommend that environmental assessment of diets should include indicators for at least the five following areas: climate change, biosphere integrity, blue water consumption, novel entities, and impacts on natural resources (especially wild fish stocks), to capture important environmental trade-offs. If more indicators can be handled in the assessment, indicators to capture impacts related to land use quantity and quality and green water consumption should be used. For ambitious assessments, indicators related to biogeochemical flows, stratospheric ozone depletion, and energy use can be added.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ylva Ran
- Department of Energy and Technology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Christel Cederberg
- Division of Physical Resource Theory, Department of Space, Earth and Environment, Chalmers University of Technology, Göteborg, Sweden
| | - Malin Jonell
- Global Economic Dynamics and the Biosphere, Royal Swedish Academy of Science, Stockholm, Sweden; Stockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Kristina Bergman
- KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Department of Sustainable Development, Environmental Science and Engineering, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Imke J M De Boer
- Animal Production Systems Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Rasmus Einarsson
- Department of Energy and Technology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Johan Karlsson
- Department of Energy and Technology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Hanna Karlsson Potter
- Department of Energy and Technology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Michael Martin
- IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Geneviève S Metson
- Department of Geography and Environment, Social Sciences Centre, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada; Ecological and Environmental Modeling Division, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Thomas Nemecek
- Agroscope, Life Cycle Assessment Research Group, Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | - Åsa Strand
- IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Pernilla Tidåker
- Department of Energy and Technology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Hayo Van der Werf
- French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment, l'Institut Agro Rennes-Angers, Rennes, France
| | | | - Hannah H E Van Zanten
- Farming Systems Ecology Group, Wageningen Universityand Research, Wageningen, Netherlands; Department of Global Development, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, and Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Francesca Verones
- Industrial Ecology Programme, Department of Energy and Process Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Elin Röös
- Department of Energy and Technology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
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3
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Cheng EMY, Cheng CML, Choo J, Yan Y, Carrasco LR. Biodiversity footprints of 151 popular dishes from around the world. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0296492. [PMID: 38381742 PMCID: PMC10880993 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0296492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Habitat loss for food production is a key threat to global biodiversity. Despite the importance of dietary choices on our capacity to mitigate the on-going biodiversity crisis, unlike with specific ingredients or products, consumers have limited information on the biodiversity implications of choosing to eat a certain popular dish. Here we estimated the biodiversity footprints of 151 popular local dishes from around the world when globally and locally produced and after calorical content standardization. We find that specific ingredients (beef, legumes, rice) encroaching on biodiversity hotspots with already very high agricultural pressure (e.g. India) lead to high biodiversity footprint in the dishes. Examples of high-biodiversity-footprint popular dishes were beef dishes such as fraldinha (beef cut dish) originating from Brazil and legume dishes such as chana masala (chickpea curry) from India. Regardless of assuming locally or globally produced, feedlot or pasture livestock production, vegan and vegetarian dishes presented lower biodiversity footprints than dishes containing meat. Our results demonstrate the feasibility of analysing biodiversity footprint at the dish level across multiple countries, making sustainable eating decisions more accessible to consumers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elissa M. Y. Cheng
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Carina M. L. Cheng
- Department of Statistics and Data Science, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Jacqueline Choo
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Yanyun Yan
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Luis Roman Carrasco
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
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4
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Roe D, Holland E, Nisi N, Mitchell T, Tasnim T. Loss and damage finance should apply to biodiversity loss. Nat Ecol Evol 2023; 7:1336-1338. [PMID: 37248335 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-023-02088-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Dilys Roe
- International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), London, UK.
| | - Ebony Holland
- International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), London, UK
| | - Nora Nisi
- International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), London, UK
| | - Tom Mitchell
- International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), London, UK
| | - Tasfia Tasnim
- International Centre for Climate Change and Development (ICCCAD), Dhaka, Bangladesh
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5
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Musungu AL, Muriithi BW, Ghemoh CJ, Nakimbugwe D, Tanga CM. Production, consumption, and market supply of edible crickets: insights from East Africa. AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD ECONOMICS 2023; 11:28. [PMID: 37576782 PMCID: PMC10412527 DOI: 10.1186/s40100-023-00272-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Revised: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023]
Abstract
Globally, crickets are gaining recognition as a valuable alternative protein source for human consumption due to their lower resource requirement and ecological footprint compared to traditional livestock. In this paper, we examine strategies that may expedite the sustainable domestication of crickets as a food source. Using survey data from 306 households in western Kenya, we find that supplying cricket production starter kits, granting access to credit facilities, encouraging participation in farmer groups, and fostering partnerships can enhance the adoption of cricket farming. Moreover, we provide new evidence that institutional training significantly increases cricket yields while embracing cricket consumption (i.e. entomophagy) increases market supply. These findings underscore the importance of technical training, provision of production starter kits, and raising awareness about entomophagy to achieve sustainable mass production and adoption of cricket farming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arnold L. Musungu
- Center for Development Research (ZEF), University of Bonn, Genscherallee Str. 3, 53113 Bonn, Germany
| | - Beatrice W. Muriithi
- International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (Icipe), P.O. Box 30772-00100, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Changeh J. Ghemoh
- Centre for African Bio-Entrepreneurship (CABE), P.O. Box 25535-00603, Lavington, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Dorothy Nakimbugwe
- Department of Food Technology and Nutrition, School of Food Technology, Nutrition, and Bioengineering, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Chrysantus M. Tanga
- International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (Icipe), P.O. Box 30772-00100, Nairobi, Kenya
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Grasso AC, Besselink JJF, Tyszler M, Bruins MJ. The Potential of Food Fortification as an Enabler of More Environmentally Sustainable, Nutritionally Adequate Diets. Nutrients 2023; 15:nu15112473. [PMID: 37299436 DOI: 10.3390/nu15112473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2023] [Revised: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Policies encouraging shifts towards more plant-based diets can lead to shortfalls in micronutrients typically present in animal products (B-vitamins, vitamin D, calcium, iodine, iron, selenium, zinc, and long-chain omega-3 fatty acids). We modelled the effect of fortifying foods with these critical micronutrients, with the aim of achieving nutrition and sustainability goals, using food consumption data from Dutch adults (19-30 years). Three dietary scenarios were optimized for nutritional adequacy and 2030 greenhouse gas emissions (GHGE-2030) targets, respectively, with the fewest deviations from the baseline diet: (i) the current diet (mainly vitamin A- and D-fortified margarine, iodized bread, and some calcium- and vitamin D-fortified dairy alternatives and iron- and vitamin B12-fortified meat alternatives); (ii) all plant-based alternatives fortified with critical micronutrients; and (iii) fortified bread and oils. Optimizing the current diet for nutrition and GHGE-2030 targets reduced animal-to-plant protein ratios from ~65:35, to 33:67 (women) and 20:80 (men), but required major increases in legumes and plant-based alternatives. When fortifying all plant-based alternatives and, subsequently, bread and oil, smaller dietary changes were needed to achieve nutrition and GHGE-2030 targets. Fortifying food products with critical micronutrients, ideally with complementary education on plant-based foods, can facilitate the transition to healthier and more sustainable diets.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Maaike J Bruins
- dsm-firmenich, Taste, Texture and Health, 2613 AX Delft, The Netherlands
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7
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Liu Y, Zhen L, Hu Y. Food Production and Consumption in Ordos of Inner Mongolia. Foods 2023; 12:foods12051066. [PMID: 36900590 PMCID: PMC10000956 DOI: 10.3390/foods12051066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Ordos is an ecological fragile area in the upstream and midstream of the Yellow River and a component of the ecological security barrier on the northern frontier of China. With population growth in recent years, the contradiction between human beings and land resources has become increasingly prominent, leading to increased food security risks. Since 2000, the local government has implemented a series of ecological projects to guide farmers and herdsmen to transform from extensive production to intensive production, which has optimized the pattern of food production and consumption. It is necessary to study the balance between food supply and demand to evaluate food self-sufficiency. Here, we used the panel data from 2000 to 2020 collected based on random sampling surveys to reveal the characteristics of food production and consumption, the changes in food self-sufficiency rate and the dependence of food consumption on local production in Ordos. The results showed that food production and consumption dominated by grains have been increasing. The residents' diets were characterized by excessive consumption of grains and meat, and insufficient consumption of vegetables, fruits, and dairy foods. On the whole, the locality has achieved self-sufficiency, because the food supply exceeded the demand during the two decades. However, the self-sufficiency of different food types varied greatly, as some foods, such as wheat, rice, pork, poultry, and eggs, have not been self-sufficient. Due to the increased and diversified food demand of residents, food consumption became less dependent on local production and more dependent on food imported from the central and eastern China, which threatened local food security. The study can provide a scientific basis for decision-makers for the structural adjustment of agricultural and animal husbandry and the structural adjustment of food consumption, to ensure food security and sustainable utilization of land resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yexuan Liu
- Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- School of Resource and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Lin Zhen
- Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- School of Resource and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- Correspondence:
| | - Yunfeng Hu
- Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- School of Resource and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
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8
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Mattas K, Raptou E, Alayidi A, Yener G, Baourakis G. Assessing the interlinkage between biodiversity and diet through the Mediterranean diet case. Adv Nutr 2023; 14:570-582. [PMID: 36997093 DOI: 10.1016/j.advnut.2023.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2022] [Revised: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The adoption of healthy and sustainable diets, and the transition to sustainable food systems is of principal importance in order to counteract the double burden of climate change and non-communicable diseases. The Mediterranean diet (MD) has been widely recognized as a biodiversity and healthy nutrition resource to support sustainable development and food security. This study explored biodiversity in terms of food plants species, subspecies, varieties and races, and also addressed food-plant diversity differences between the MD and western-type consumption patterns. It was funded by the EU BioValue Project, aiming to promote the integration of underutilized crops into the food value chains. Using a two-stage scheme, data were selected from MEDUSA and Euro+Med databases (including 449 species, 2,366 subspecies, varieties, and races). Furthermore, 12 countries from North Africa and Europe were classified in two groups according to their sub-regional attributes and their traditionally most prevalent dietary pattern (MD or western-type diets). Statistical analysis showed that the mean of the majorly cultivated food plants in the MD was significantly higher than its counterpart in the Western-diet. Furthermore, no statistical difference was detected in the averages of native food plants between the MD group and the Western diet group, implying that the higher diversity in food plants observed in the MD seems to be attributed to crop utilization rather than crop availability. Our findings indicated the interlinkage between biodiversity and prevailing dietary patterns, and further underlined that biodiversity could constitute a prerequisite for dietary diversity, and hence nutrition security. In addition, this study demonstrated that diets and nutrition should be approached in a broader way within the context of both agro-food and ecological systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konstadinos Mattas
- Department of Agricultural Economics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
| | - Elena Raptou
- Department of Agricultural Development, Democritus University of Thrace, Orestiada, Greece
| | - Ahmed Alayidi
- Department of Business Economics and Management, CIHEAM Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Chania, Chania, Greece
| | - Gizem Yener
- Department of Business Economics and Management, CIHEAM Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Chania, Chania, Greece
| | - George Baourakis
- CIHEAM Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Chania, Chania, Greece
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9
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Ainsworth GB, Pita P, Garcia Rodrigues J, Pita C, Roumbedakis K, Fonseca T, Castelo D, Longo C, Power AM, Pierce GJ, Villasante S. Disentangling global market drivers for cephalopods to foster transformations towards sustainable seafood systems. PEOPLE AND NATURE 2023. [DOI: 10.1002/pan3.10442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Gillian B. Ainsworth
- Faculty of Business Administration and Management University of Santiago de Compostela Santiago de Compostela Spain
- CRETUS, Department of Applied Economics University of Santiago de Compostela Santiago de Compostela Spain
| | - Pablo Pita
- Faculty of Business Administration and Management University of Santiago de Compostela Santiago de Compostela Spain
- CRETUS, Department of Applied Economics University of Santiago de Compostela Santiago de Compostela Spain
| | | | - Cristina Pita
- International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) London UK
- CESAM—Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Department of Environment and Planning University of Aveiro Aveiro Portugal
| | - Katina Roumbedakis
- CRETUS, Department of Applied Economics University of Santiago de Compostela Santiago de Compostela Spain
- CESAM—Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Department of Environment and Planning University of Aveiro Aveiro Portugal
| | - Tereza Fonseca
- CESAM—Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Department of Environment and Planning University of Aveiro Aveiro Portugal
| | - Daniela Castelo
- CESAM—Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Department of Environment and Planning University of Aveiro Aveiro Portugal
| | | | - Anne Marie Power
- Ryan Institute, School of Natural Sciences National University of Ireland Galway Galway Ireland
| | | | - Sebastián Villasante
- Faculty of Business Administration and Management University of Santiago de Compostela Santiago de Compostela Spain
- CRETUS, Department of Applied Economics University of Santiago de Compostela Santiago de Compostela Spain
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10
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Sporchia F, Caro D, Bruno M, Patrizi N, Marchettini N, Pulselli FM. Estimating the impact on water scarcity due to coffee production, trade, and consumption worldwide and a focus on EU. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2023; 327:116881. [PMID: 36462484 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.116881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2022] [Revised: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Coffee consumption is concentrated in the "Global North", while production is mainly located in the "Global South". This trade-driven dependency leads to the exploitation of natural resources. As an export-oriented cash crop, such dependency jeopardizes the existence of a fair distribution of the risks and revenues among all the actors taking part in its globalized supply chain. Coffee trees are mainly rain-fed and only partly irrigated. However, the increasing global coffee demand led to higher consumption of freshwater, which can exacerbate the stressed condition of already stressed water basins. This study quantifies the impact of global coffee consumption on water scarcity, considering the larger system made of producer and consumer countries. The global displacement of such impact is driven by consumer preferences. We found that the US, EU and Asian countries' coffee consumption create impact on water scarcity mostly in African and South American countries, which is also representative of the economic disparities existing behind the global trade flows. Climate change will likely affect the varieties currently preferred by global consumers. Therefore, immediate environmental sustainability actions including water resource preservation are necessary to face current and future challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Sporchia
- Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, Roskilde, Denmark; Ecodynamics Group, Department of Physical Sciences, Earth and Environment, University of Siena, Italy.
| | - Dario Caro
- Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, Roskilde, Denmark; European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Directorate Growth and Innovation, Circular Economy and Industrial Leadership Unit, Seville, Spain
| | - Morena Bruno
- Ecodynamics Group, Department of Physical Sciences, Earth and Environment, University of Siena, Italy
| | - Nicoletta Patrizi
- Ecodynamics Group, Department of Physical Sciences, Earth and Environment, University of Siena, Italy
| | - Nadia Marchettini
- Ecodynamics Group, Department of Physical Sciences, Earth and Environment, University of Siena, Italy
| | - Federico M Pulselli
- Ecodynamics Group, Department of Physical Sciences, Earth and Environment, University of Siena, Italy
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11
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Tan YL, Yiew TH, Habibullah MS, Chen JE, Mat Kamal SNI, Saud NA. Research trends in biodiversity loss: a bibliometric analysis. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:2754-2770. [PMID: 35941500 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-22211-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2021] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Although increased attempts to preserve biodiversity ecosystems have been widely publicized, bibliometric research of biodiversity loss remains limited. Using VOSviewer, we hope to provide a bibliometric assessment of global research trends on biodiversity loss from 1990 to 2021. Document type, language, publication trend, countries, institutions, Author Keywords, and Keywords Plus were all examined. This study recorded a total of 6599 publications from the Web of Science Core Collection database. According to the findings, biodiversity loss research is expected to rise dramatically in the near future. However, the role of social sciences and economics in biodiversity loss studies has received little attention. The USA made the most significant contribution in this field. Biological Conservation was the most productive journal, and Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America was the most influential journal in biodiversity loss literature. Eisenhauer, N was the most prolific author, and Collen, B was the most referenced. Biodiversity, biodiversity loss mechanisms, biodiversity loss drivers, conservation, and climate change have been the topic of previous research. Possible future research hotspots may include species diversity and many elements of biodiversity. Lastly, the outcomes of this study suggest that existing socio-economic concerns can be integrated into decision-making processes to improve biodiversity conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan-Ling Tan
- Faculty of Business and Management, Universiti Teknologi MARA Cawangan Johor Kampus Segamat, Johor, Malaysia.
| | - Thian-Hee Yiew
- Faculty of Business and Finance, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Perak, Malaysia
| | | | - Jen-Eem Chen
- Faculty of Business and Management, Universiti Teknologi MARA Cawangan Perlis Kampus Arau, Perlis, Malaysia
| | - Siti Nuur-Ila Mat Kamal
- Faculty of Information Management, Universiti Teknologi MARA Cawangan Johor Kampus Segamat, Johor, Malaysia
| | - Nur Adilah Saud
- Faculty of Business and Management, Universiti Teknologi MARA Cawangan Johor Kampus Segamat, Johor, Malaysia
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12
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Rasche L, Schneider UA, Steinhauser J. A stakeholders' pathway towards a future land use and food system in Germany. SUSTAINABILITY SCIENCE 2023; 18:441-455. [PMID: 36068850 PMCID: PMC9436157 DOI: 10.1007/s11625-022-01212-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Food systems contribute considerably to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and influence land use. In Germany, many strategies have been proposed by policy-makers to reduce negative impacts and make the food system more sustainable. It is unclear how close the suggested policies, when bundled, will bring the food and land use system towards the targeted goals; and what stakeholders from non-policy-making organizations consider realistic changes in the German food system. We thus surveyed different stakeholder groups on their opinions about realistic changes in the food and land use system in Germany up to 2050, developed four stakeholder pathways, and used an accounting tool to determine the effect of each pathway on indicators such as land use, GHG emissions, and biodiversity conservation potential. The assessment showed that GHG emissions from agricultural activities and land use are reduced from 66 to - 2-22 TgCO2e by 2050, while the area where natural processes predominate increases from 19 to 27-32%, and the resilience of the food system is not negatively influenced. The change is caused mainly by a diet-change-induced reduction of livestock production and agricultural area transformation into areas with higher carbon sequestration rates. If followed, the common stakeholder pathway (based on all stakeholder responses) would thus lead towards a sustainable food and land use system, but only if the underlying assumption of a drastic diet change towards more plant-based products comes true. Stakeholders from the academic and public sectors were more likely to assume that such a change was realistic than stakeholders from the private sector.
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Affiliation(s)
- Livia Rasche
- Research Unit Sustainability and Climate Risks, Universität Hamburg, Grindelberg 5, 20144 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Uwe A. Schneider
- Research Unit Sustainability and Climate Risks, Universität Hamburg, Grindelberg 5, 20144 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Jan Steinhauser
- Research Unit Sustainability and Climate Risks, Universität Hamburg, Grindelberg 5, 20144 Hamburg, Germany
- Energy, Climate, and Environment Program, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), Schlossplatz 1, 2361 Laxenburg, Austria
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13
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Taylor I, Bull JW, Ashton B, Biggs E, Clark M, Gray N, Grub HMJ, Stewart C, Milner-Gulland EJ. Nature-positive goals for an organization's food consumption. NATURE FOOD 2023; 4:96-108. [PMID: 37118582 DOI: 10.1038/s43016-022-00660-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 04/30/2023]
Abstract
Organizations are increasingly committing to biodiversity protection targets with focus on 'nature-positive' outcomes, yet examples of how to feasibly achieve these targets are needed. Here we propose an approach to achieve nature-positive targets with respect to the embodied biodiversity impacts of an organization's food consumption. We quantify these impacts using a comprehensive database of life-cycle environmental impacts from food, and map exploratory strategies to meet defined targets structured according to a mitigation and conservation hierarchy. By considering the varying needs and values across the organization's internal community, we identify a range of targeted approaches towards mitigating impacts, which balance top-down and bottom-up actions to different degrees. Delivering ambitious nature-positive targets within current constraints will be challenging, particularly given the need to mitigate cumulative impacts. Our results evidence that however committed an organization is to being nature positive in its food provision, this is unachievable in the absence of systems change.
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Affiliation(s)
- I Taylor
- Wild Business Ltd., Kershen Fairfax, London, UK.
| | - J W Bull
- Wild Business Ltd., Kershen Fairfax, London, UK
- Durrell Institute for Conservation and Ecology, University of Kent, Canterbury, UK
| | - B Ashton
- Lady Margaret Hall, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - E Biggs
- Department of Biology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - M Clark
- Department of Biology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Oxford Martin School, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - N Gray
- Department of Biology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - H M J Grub
- Department of Biology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - C Stewart
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Radcliffe Primary Care Building, Radcliffe Observatory Quarter, Oxford, UK
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14
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Ramos S, Segovia L, Melado-Herreros A, Cidad M, Zufía J, Vranken L, Matthys C. Enviroscore: normalization, weighting, and categorization algorithm to evaluate the relative environmental impact of food and drink products. NPJ Sci Food 2022; 6:54. [PMID: 36433991 PMCID: PMC9700787 DOI: 10.1038/s41538-022-00165-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
A 5-scale label that relativizes the environmental impact of a given product referred to the impact of the European food basket is proposed. It was developed based on the Product Environmental Footprint methodology with the following stepwise approach. First, a set of normalization and weighting factors were defined to aggregate all the environmental impact categories into a single dimensionless index referred to as the European food basket, coined the European Food Environmental Footprint Single Index (EFSI). Next, the effectiveness of the EFSI index was evaluated by assessing the distribution of the EFSI results on 149 hypothetical food items and comparing it with the results obtained with EC Single Score. Finally, the thresholds to translate the EFSI index into the 5-scale Enviroscore (A, B, C, D, and E) were established and validated using the Delphi method. Results indicated that both, Enviroscore and EFSI, were able to account for impact variability between and within food products. Differences on the final score were observed due to the type of products (vegetables vs. animal products), the country of origin and the mean of transportation. Regarding country of origin, results indicated that differences in water stress impact category were better captured by the EFSI index (r = 0.624) than by the EC Single Score (r = 0.228). Finally, good agreement achieved with the Delphi method (weighted Kappa 0.642; p = 0.0025), ensures the acceptability of the Enviroscore. In conclusion, this study developed a method to communicate environmental impact assessment in a front-of-packaging label.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saioa Ramos
- grid.512117.1AZTI, Food Research, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA). Parque Tecnológico de Bizkaia, Astondo Bidea, Edificio 609, 48160 Derio, Bizkaia Spain
| | - Lucia Segovia
- grid.5596.f0000 0001 0668 7884Clinical and Experimental Endocrinology, Department of Chronic Diseases, Metabolism and Aging, KU Leuven Leuven, Belgium ,grid.5596.f0000 0001 0668 7884Division of Bioeconomics, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Angela Melado-Herreros
- grid.512117.1AZTI, Food Research, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA). Parque Tecnológico de Bizkaia, Astondo Bidea, Edificio 609, 48160 Derio, Bizkaia Spain
| | - Maite Cidad
- grid.512117.1AZTI, Food Research, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA). Parque Tecnológico de Bizkaia, Astondo Bidea, Edificio 609, 48160 Derio, Bizkaia Spain
| | - Jaime Zufía
- grid.512117.1AZTI, Food Research, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA). Parque Tecnológico de Bizkaia, Astondo Bidea, Edificio 609, 48160 Derio, Bizkaia Spain
| | - Liesbet Vranken
- grid.5596.f0000 0001 0668 7884Division of Bioeconomics, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Christophe Matthys
- grid.5596.f0000 0001 0668 7884Clinical and Experimental Endocrinology, Department of Chronic Diseases, Metabolism and Aging, KU Leuven Leuven, Belgium ,grid.410569.f0000 0004 0626 3338Department of Endocrinology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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15
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Paris JMG, Falkenberg T, Nöthlings U, Heinzel C, Borgemeister C, Escobar N. Changing dietary patterns is necessary to improve the sustainability of Western diets from a One Health perspective. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 811:151437. [PMID: 34748829 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Revised: 10/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/31/2021] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Western diets are associated with multiple environmental impacts and risks to human health. European countries are gradually taking action towards the Farm to Fork Strategy, embracing a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) perspective to promote the sustainability of food production and consumption. Although LCA enables the comprehensive assessment of environmental impacts, diet-related human health and animal welfare impacts are often underrepresented. This study proposes integrating additional indicators into LCA to evaluate the sustainability of diets under the One Health (OH) approach, which holistically considers interlinked complex health issues between humans, animals and the environment. Human health loss is estimated according to risk factors for non-communicable diseases; while animal welfare is measured as animal life years suffered, loss of animal lives and loss of morally-adjusted animal lives. The extended LCA framework is applied to men and women's reference diets in the German federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW); compared to three optimized dietary scenarios under nutritional constraints: 1) the national dietary guidelines, 2) a vegan diet (VD) and 3) a Mediterranean diet (MD). Men's reference diet causes greater impacts than women's across OH dimensions due to the higher food consumption, especially of ready-to-eat meals, sausages, meat, and sweetened and alcoholic beverages. Both reference diets are associated with risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, stroke and neoplasms. Besides meat, consumption of honey, fish and seafood has the greatest impact on animal welfare, because of the high number of individuals involved. Alternative diets improve the sustainability of food consumption in NRW, although trade-offs arise: MD worsens animal suffering due to the higher fish intake; water use increases in both VD and MD due the higher intake of nuts and vegetables. Results highlight the importance of including animal welfare and human health indicators in LCA to better elucidate the potential impacts of diets characterized by the high intake of animal products, from a OH perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Timo Falkenberg
- Centre for Development Research (ZEF), University of Bonn, Genscherallee 3, 53113 Bonn, Germany; Institute for Hygiene and Public Health, University Hospital Bonn (UKB), Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Ute Nöthlings
- Institute of Nutritional and Food Sciences (IEL) - Nutritional Epidemiology, University of Bonn, Friedrich-Hirzebruch-Allee 7, 53115 Bonn, Germany
| | - Christine Heinzel
- Department of Geography, University of Bonn, Meckenheimer Allee 166, 53115 Bonn, Germany
| | - Christian Borgemeister
- Centre for Development Research (ZEF), University of Bonn, Genscherallee 3, 53113 Bonn, Germany
| | - Neus Escobar
- Biodiversity and Natural Resources (BNR) Program, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), Schlossplatz 1, 2361 Laxenburg, Austria.
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16
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Teaching Sustainable Development Goals to University Students: A Cross-Country Case-Based Study. SUSTAINABILITY 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/su14031593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
With the purpose of analysing if case-based teaching methodology could improve higher education students’ knowledge about sustainable development, a quasi-experimental study was conducted in an international project (PASSION—Partnership for Sustainable Development and Social Innovation) and in five countries (Greece, Poland, Portugal and Sweden). Cases were interdisciplinary and focused on sustainable development goals aligned with common worldwide dilemmas like, for example, food consumption, organic farm or nature protection. Our sample consisted of 104 university students aged between 18 and 58 years, where 53% were female. Standardized pre- and post-tests were administered, and a significant improvement in sustainable development knowledge was observed considering three main questions in the pooled dataset (t103 = −7.324; p = 0.000). Regarding the four cases applications where results were more significant, an in-depth analysis was conducted, allowing the project team to better understand participants answers to multiple-choice and open questions which are analysed and discussed individually. Our results demonstrate that the case-based teaching improved the knowledge of sustainable development goals, which is expected to induce positive changes in pro-environmental behaviours. We also point out the potential of case-based teaching applied in a cross-country manner. The scheme is particularly valuable in dealing with complex sustainability dilemmas that show better their global perspectives.
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17
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Exploring food consumers’ motivations to fight both climate change and biodiversity loss: Combining insights from behavior theory and Eurobarometer data. Food Qual Prefer 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.foodqual.2021.104304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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18
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Sharma BM, Bharat GK, Chakraborty P, Martiník J, Audy O, Kukučka P, Přibylová P, Kukreti PK, Sharma A, Kalina J, Steindal EH, Nizzetto L. A comprehensive assessment of endocrine-disrupting chemicals in an Indian food basket: Levels, dietary intakes, and comparison with European data. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2021; 288:117750. [PMID: 34265562 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.117750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 07/02/2021] [Accepted: 07/06/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in diet are a health concern and their monitoring in food has been introduced in the European Union. In developing countries, EDC dietary exposure data are scarce, especially from areas perceived as pollution hotspots, including industrialized countries like India. Several persistent organic pollutants (POPs) act as EDCs and pose a pressure to human health mainly through dietary exposure. In the present study, a range of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), dioxins and furans were measured in several food items collected from Indian urban (Delhi) and peri-urban (Dehradun) areas. Food basket contamination data were used to estimate EDC dietary exposure and compare it with that of the average European population estimated from available monitoring data. All the target contaminants were found in most food items, especially in dairies and meat products. OCPs were the main contributers to the measured EDC contamination. Food supplied to Delhi's markets had higher EDC contamination than that supplied to the peri-urban market in Dehradun. Despite lax compliance and control measures, Indian dietary exposure of OCPs and PBDEs were comparable with that of Europe and were lower for PCBs and dioxins. Higher meat consumption in Europe only partly explained this pattern which was driven also by the higher EDC residues in some European food items. A substantial part of endocrine disrupting potential in the diet derives from food and animal feeds internationally traded between developed and developing countries. With increasingly globalized food systems, internationally harmonized policies on EDC content in food can lead to better protection of health in both these contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Girija K Bharat
- Mu Gamma Consultants Pvt. Ltd., 122018, Gurugram, Haryana, India
| | - Paromita Chakraborty
- SRM Institute of Science and Technology, 603203, Kattankulathur, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Jakub Martiník
- RECETOX, Masaryk University, 62500, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Ondřej Audy
- RECETOX, Masaryk University, 62500, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Kukučka
- RECETOX, Masaryk University, 62500, Brno, Czech Republic
| | | | | | - Anežka Sharma
- RECETOX, Masaryk University, 62500, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jiří Kalina
- RECETOX, Masaryk University, 62500, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Eirik Hovland Steindal
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Gaustadalleen 21, 0349, Oslo, Norway; Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), Universitetstunet 3, 1432 Ås, Norway
| | - Luca Nizzetto
- RECETOX, Masaryk University, 62500, Brno, Czech Republic; Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Gaustadalleen 21, 0349, Oslo, Norway.
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19
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Wen W, Li Z, Shao J, Tang Y, Zhao Z, Yang J, Ding M, Zhu X, Zhou M. The Distribution and Sustainable Utilization of Buckwheat Resources under Climate Change in China. PLANTS 2021; 10:plants10102081. [PMID: 34685889 PMCID: PMC8538749 DOI: 10.3390/plants10102081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2021] [Revised: 09/02/2021] [Accepted: 09/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Buckwheat is a promising pseudo cereal and its cultivation history can be traced back to thousands of years ago in China. Nowadays, buckwheat is not only an ordinary crop but also a symbol of healthy life because of its rich nutritional and pharmacological properties. In this research, the current suitable areas of 19 wild buckwheat species were analyzed by the MaxEnt model, which proved that southwestern China was the diversity center of buckwheat. Their morphological characteristics and geographical distribution were analyzed for the first time. In addition, it was found that the change of buckwheat cultivation in three periods might be related to the green revolution of main crops and national policies. Meanwhile, the Sustainable Yield Index (SYI) value of buckwheat in China was the lowest from 1959 to 2016. Through the MaxEnt model, the potentially suitable areas of wild buckwheat would contract while cultivated buckwheat would expand under climate change. Accordingly, the diversity of wild buckwheat will decrease. Therefore, it is necessary to protect buckwheat resources as much as possible to strengthen the development and utilization of buckwheat resources. Moreover, the promotion of buckwheat diversity will be an important trade-off between food security, population growth, and land use under climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen Wen
- College of Environmental Sciences, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China; (W.W.); (Z.L.)
- Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China;
- Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML), Leiden University, Box 9518, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Zhiqiang Li
- College of Environmental Sciences, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China; (W.W.); (Z.L.)
| | - Jirong Shao
- Xichen Intelligent Agricultural Technology Co., Ltd., Chengdu 611130, China;
- College of Life Sciences, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya’an 625014, China
| | - Yu Tang
- Department of Tourism, Sichuan Tourism University, Chengdu 610100, China;
| | - Zhijun Zhao
- Institute of Archaeology, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Beijing 100010, China; (Z.Z.); (J.Y.)
| | - Jingang Yang
- Institute of Archaeology, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Beijing 100010, China; (Z.Z.); (J.Y.)
| | - Mengqi Ding
- Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China;
- Department of Crop Science, College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, Chungnam National University, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 305-754, Korea
| | - Xuemei Zhu
- College of Environmental Sciences, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China; (W.W.); (Z.L.)
- Correspondence: (X.Z.); (M.Z.)
| | - Meiliang Zhou
- Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China;
- Correspondence: (X.Z.); (M.Z.)
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20
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Angerer V, Sabia E, König von Borstel U, Gauly M. Environmental and biodiversity effects of different beef production systems. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2021; 289:112523. [PMID: 33839605 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.112523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2020] [Revised: 12/17/2020] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Agricultural livestock production ranks among the most environmental impactful industry sectors at the global level, and within the livestock sector, beef production accounts for a large proportion of environmental damage. Beef production in Alpine mountain regions, such as in South Tyrol (Italy), is a small, but increasing agricultural sector. Thus, the aim of this study was to examine the environmental impact of different organic and conventional beef production systems in South Tyrol and to compare their environmental impact and effect on biodiversity under Alpine production conditions. Live cycle assessment (LCA) approach was used and 1 kg of live weight (LW) was chosen as functional unit (FU). Global warming potential (GWP, kg CO2-eq), acidification potential (AP, g SO2-eq), eutrophication potential (EP, g PO4-eq), non-renewable energy use (NRE, MJ-eq), land occupation (LO, m2 organic land/year) and biodiversity damage potential (BDP) expressed in potential disappeared fraction (PDF) were investigated. The study involved 18 beef cattle farms in the South Tyrolean region: Conventional calf-fattening farms (CCF = 6), organic suckler cow farms (SCF = 6), and conventional heifer/ox fattening farms (HOF = 6). The CCF system showed a higher environmental impact compared to SCF and HOF systems for all impact categories (P < 0.05). Between the organic and the conventional system (SCF and HOF), no significant differences (P > 0.05) were found for most of the considered impact categories (means ± SEM per FU): GWP: 19.8 vs 17.1 ± 4.2 kg CO2-eq, AP: 11.4 vs 9.3 ± 4.7 g SO2-eq, EP: 4.1 vs 2.8 ± 1.2, NRE: 21.9 vs 13.8 ± 7 MJ-eq, SCF and HOF respectively. Only for LO (70.8 vs 44.1 ± 17.7 m2 organic/y, P < 0.01, SCF and HOF respectively) and the effect on BDP (-1.93 vs -0.85 ± 0.35, PDF, P < 0.01, SCF and HOF respectively) differences between organic and conventional production methods could be revealed. The study showed that beef cattle husbandry in the Alpine area has a satisfactory environmental performance. In particular, the systems studied showed a positive impact in terms of biodiversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Verena Angerer
- Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, Faculty of Science and Technology, Piazza Università 5, Bolzano, 39100, Italy
| | - Emilio Sabia
- Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, Faculty of Science and Technology, Piazza Università 5, Bolzano, 39100, Italy.
| | - Uta König von Borstel
- Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen, Leihgesterner Weg 52, 35392, Gießen, Germany
| | - Matthias Gauly
- Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, Faculty of Science and Technology, Piazza Università 5, Bolzano, 39100, Italy
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21
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Järviö N, Maljanen NL, Kobayashi Y, Ryynänen T, Tuomisto HL. An attributional life cycle assessment of microbial protein production: A case study on using hydrogen-oxidizing bacteria. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 776:145764. [PMID: 33639472 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2020] [Revised: 01/30/2021] [Accepted: 02/06/2021] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Novel food production technologies are being developed to address the challenges of securing sustainable and healthy nutrition for the growing global population. This study assessed the environmental impacts of microbial protein (MP) produced by autotrophic hydrogen-oxidizing bacteria (HOB). Data was collected from a company currently producing MP using HOB (hereafter simply referred to as MP) on a small-scale. Earlier studies have performed an environmental assessment of MP on a theoretical basis but no study yet has used empirical data. An attributional life cycle assessment (LCA) with a cradle-to-gate approach was used to quantify global warming potential (GWP), land use, freshwater and marine eutrophication potential, water scarcity, human (non-)carcinogenic toxicity, and the cumulative energy demand (CED) of MP production in Finland. A Monte Carlo analysis was performed to assess uncertainties while a sensitivity analysis was used to explore the impacts of alternative production options and locations. The results were compared with animal- and plant-based protein sources for human consumption as well as protein sources for feed. Electricity consumption had the highest contribution to environmental impacts. Therefore, the source of energy had a substantial impact on the results. MP production using hydropower as an energy source yielded 87.5% lower GWP compared to using the average Finnish electricity mix. In comparison with animal-based protein sources for food production, MP had 53-100% lower environmental impacts depending on the reference product and the source of energy assumed for MP production. When compared with plant-based protein sources for food production, MP had lower land and water use requirements, and eutrophication potential but GWP was reduced only if low-emission energy sources were used. Compared to protein sources for feed production, MP production often resulted in lower environmental impact for GWP (FHE), land use, and eutrophication and acidification potential, but generally caused high water scarcity and required more energy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natasha Järviö
- Future Sustainable Food Systems-Research Group, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 27, 00014 University of Helsinki, Finland; Helsinki Institute of Sustainability Science (HELSUS), University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 4, 00014 University of Helsinki, Finland; Ruralia Institute, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Helsinki, Lönnrotinkatu 7, 50100 Mikkeli, Finland.
| | - Netta-Leena Maljanen
- Future Sustainable Food Systems-Research Group, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 27, 00014 University of Helsinki, Finland; Helsinki Institute of Sustainability Science (HELSUS), University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 4, 00014 University of Helsinki, Finland; Ruralia Institute, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Helsinki, Lönnrotinkatu 7, 50100 Mikkeli, Finland
| | - Yumi Kobayashi
- Future Sustainable Food Systems-Research Group, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 27, 00014 University of Helsinki, Finland; Helsinki Institute of Sustainability Science (HELSUS), University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 4, 00014 University of Helsinki, Finland; Department of Agricultural Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 27, 00014 University of Helsinki, Finland
| | - Toni Ryynänen
- Future Sustainable Food Systems-Research Group, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 27, 00014 University of Helsinki, Finland; Helsinki Institute of Sustainability Science (HELSUS), University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 4, 00014 University of Helsinki, Finland; Ruralia Institute, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Helsinki, Lönnrotinkatu 7, 50100 Mikkeli, Finland
| | - Hanna L Tuomisto
- Future Sustainable Food Systems-Research Group, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 27, 00014 University of Helsinki, Finland; Helsinki Institute of Sustainability Science (HELSUS), University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 4, 00014 University of Helsinki, Finland; Department of Agricultural Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 27, 00014 University of Helsinki, Finland; Natural Resources Institute Finland, P.O.Box 2, 00790 Helsinki, Finland
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22
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Belgacem W, Mattas K, Arampatzis G, Baourakis G. Changing Dietary Behavior for Better Biodiversity Preservation: A Preliminary Study. Nutrients 2021; 13:nu13062076. [PMID: 34204478 PMCID: PMC8234216 DOI: 10.3390/nu13062076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2021] [Revised: 06/06/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Broadly consumed dietary patterns, such as the European and Western ones, are exerting pressures on biodiversity both in Europe and globally, and shifting toward a sustainable dietary pattern has thus become a must. This paper constitutes a preliminary communication of the results of a research project on the issue. In this study, the pressures of three dietary patterns (European, Western, and Mediterranean) on biodiversity are addressed in terms of land use, water use, greenhouse gas emissions, and eutrophication impact indicators. The environmental impacts are calculated based on a compositional analysis of each dietary pattern and the environmental footprints of the corresponding food groups. Food balance sheets published by the FAO are used as a basis for the compositional analysis, while the environmental footprints of each of the representative food products are retrieved from related life cycle assessment (LCA) studies. The results show that a shift from the European to the Mediterranean dietary pattern would lead to 10 m2/capita/day land savings, 240 L/capita/day water savings, 3 kg CO2/capita/day reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, and 20 gPO4eq/capita/day reductions in eutrophication potential. Likewise, a shift from the Western to the Mediterranean dietary pattern would lead to 18 m2/capita/day land savings, 100 L/capita/day water savings, 4 kg CO2/capita/day reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, and 16 gPO4eq/capita/day reduction in eutrophication potential. Based on these findings, it is clear that this shift is urgently needed as a step toward environmentally sustainable dietary patterns, such as the Mediterranean one, to preserve biodiversity for future generations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wajdi Belgacem
- Department of Business Economics and Management, CIHEAM-MAICh, 73200 Chania, Greece;
- Correspondence:
| | - Konstadinos Mattas
- Department of Agricultural Economics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece;
| | - George Arampatzis
- School of Production Engineering and Management, Technical University of Crete, 73200 Chania, Greece;
| | - George Baourakis
- Department of Business Economics and Management, CIHEAM-MAICh, 73200 Chania, Greece;
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23
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Sustainable Agri-Food Systems: Environment, Economy, Society, and Policy. SUSTAINABILITY 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/su13116260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Agri-food systems (AFS) have been central in the debate on sustainable development. Despite this growing interest in AFS, comprehensive analyses of the scholarly literature are hard to find. Therefore, the present systematic review delineated the contours of this growing research strand and analyzed how it relates to sustainability. A search performed on the Web of Science in January 2020 yielded 1389 documents, and 1289 were selected and underwent bibliometric and topical analyses. The topical analysis was informed by the SAFA (Sustainability Assessment of Food and Agriculture systems) approach of FAO and structured along four dimensions viz. environment, economy, society and culture, and policy and governance. The review shows an increasing interest in AFS with an exponential increase in publications number. However, the study field is north-biased and dominated by researchers and organizations from developed countries. Moreover, the analysis suggests that while environmental aspects are sufficiently addressed, social, economic, and political ones are generally overlooked. The paper ends by providing directions for future research and listing some topics to be integrated into a comprehensive, multidisciplinary agenda addressing the multifaceted (un)sustainability of AFS. It makes the case for adopting a holistic, 4-P (planet, people, profit, policy) approach in agri-food system studies.
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Environmental sustainability assessment of poultry productions through life cycle approaches: A critical review. Trends Food Sci Technol 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tifs.2021.01.086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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Abstract
Increasing pressures surrounding efficiency and sustainability are key global drivers in dairy farm management strategies. However, for numerous resource-based, social, and economic reasons sustainable intensification strategies are herd-size dependent. In this study, we investigated the environmental impacts of Latvia’s dairy farms with different management practices. The herd size-dependent management groups varied from extensively managed small herds with 1–9 cows, extending to stepwise more intensively managed herds with 10–50, 51–100, 100–200, and over 200 milking cows. The aim is to compare the environmental impacts of different size-based production strategies on Latvia’s dairy farms. The results show that the gross greenhouse gas emissions differ by 29%: from 1.09 kg CO2 equivalents (CO2e) per kg of raw milk for the farms with 51–100 cows, down to 0.84 kg CO2e/kg milk for farms with more than 200 cows. However, the land use differs even more—the largest farms use 2.25 times less land per kg of milk than the smallest farms. Global warming potential, marine eutrophication, terrestrial acidification, and ecotoxicity were highest for the mid-sized farms. If current domestic, farm-based protein feeds were to be substituted with imported soy feed (one of the most popular high-protein feeds) the environmental impacts of Latvian dairy production would significantly increase, e.g., land use would increase by 18% and the global warming potential by 43%. Environmental policy approaches for steering the farms should consider the overall effects of operation size on environmental quality, in order to support the best practices for each farm type and steer systematic change in the country. The limitations of this study are linked to national data availability (e.g., national data on feed production, heifer breeding, differences among farms regards soil type, manure management, the proximity to marine or aquatic habitats) and methodological shortcomings (e.g., excluding emissions of carbon sequestration, the use of proxy allocation, and excluding social and biodiversity impacts in life-cycle assessment). Further research is needed to improve the data quality, the allocation method, and provide farm-size-specific information on outputs, heifer breeding, manure storage, and handling.
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Conflicts between agriculture and biodiversity conservation in Europe: Looking to the future by learning from the past. ADV ECOL RES 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.aecr.2021.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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De Laurentiis V, Caldeira C, Sala S. No time to waste: assessing the performance of food waste prevention actions. RESOURCES, CONSERVATION, AND RECYCLING 2020; 161:104946. [PMID: 33012985 PMCID: PMC7444015 DOI: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2020.104946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
As a result of the growing awareness of the need to prevent food waste, several initiatives have been launched in the last few years to reduce food waste generated across the food supply chain. However, the evaluation of food waste prevention interventions is still at an early stage of development and appropriate methods to assess their effectiveness are missing, hampering the identification of best practices amongst existing initiatives and the prioritisation of those that are most promising. To address such needs and provide a common approach to consistently assess the performance of food waste prevention initiatives, the European Commission Joint Research Centre has developed an evaluation framework for food waste prevention actions. The framework supports the EU Platform on Food Losses and Food Waste, which has been established to identify best practices and share knowledge on food waste prevention initiatives. Additionally, a food waste prevention calculator, based on life cycle thinking, has been developed to support such an evaluation by a consistent assessment of the environmental and economic benefits of such initiatives, and the identification of potential trade-offs at early design stages. The main goal of this paper is to present the evaluation framework and the calculator developed, critically discussing how future initiatives should be designed, monitored and reported, to ensure sufficient and relevant data is made available to enable their proper assessment. Crucially, this would enable practitioners and decision makers to evaluate the success of existing initiatives and give priority to the implementation of the best performing ones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria De Laurentiis
- European Commission-Joint Research Centre, Directorate D-Sustainable Resources, Via Enrico Fermi 2749, I-21027 Ispra (VA), Italy
| | - Carla Caldeira
- European Commission-Joint Research Centre, Directorate D-Sustainable Resources, Via Enrico Fermi 2749, I-21027 Ispra (VA), Italy
| | - Serenella Sala
- European Commission-Joint Research Centre, Directorate D-Sustainable Resources, Via Enrico Fermi 2749, I-21027 Ispra (VA), Italy
- Corresponding author. Telephone: +39 0332 786417
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Slorach PC, Jeswani HK, Cuéllar-Franca R, Azapagic A. Environmental sustainability in the food-energy-water-health nexus: A new methodology and an application to food waste in a circular economy. WASTE MANAGEMENT (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2020; 113:359-368. [PMID: 32585558 DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2020.06.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2020] [Revised: 06/05/2020] [Accepted: 06/12/2020] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Current studies on the food-energy-water nexus do not capture effects on human health. This study presents a new methodology for assessing the environmental sustainability in the food-energy-water-health nexus on a life cycle basis. The environmental impacts, estimated through life cycle assessment, are used to determine a total impact on the nexus by assigning each life cycle impact to one of the four nexus aspects. These are then normalised, weighted and aggregated to rank the options for each aspect and determine an overall nexus impact. The outputs of the assessment are visualised in a "nexus quadrilateral" to enable structured and transparent interpretation of results. The methodology is illustrated by considering resource recovery from household food waste within the context of a circular economy. The impact on the nexus of four treatment options is quantified: anaerobic digestion, in-vessel composting, incineration and landfilling. Anaerobic digestion is environmentally the most sustainable option with the lowest overall impact on the nexus. Incineration is the second best option but has a greater impact on the health aspect than landfilling. Landfilling has the greatest influence on the water aspect and the second highest overall impact on the nexus. In-vessel composting is the worst option overall, despite being favoured over incineration and landfilling in circular-economy waste hierarchies. This demonstrates that "circular" does not necessarily mean "environmentally sustainable." The proposed methodology can be used to guide businesses and policy makers in interpreting a wide range of environmental impacts of products, technologies and human activities within the food-energy-water-health nexus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter C Slorach
- Sustainable Industrial Systems, Department of Chemical Engineering and Analytical Science, The University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - Harish K Jeswani
- Sustainable Industrial Systems, Department of Chemical Engineering and Analytical Science, The University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - Rosa Cuéllar-Franca
- Sustainable Industrial Systems, Department of Chemical Engineering and Analytical Science, The University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - Adisa Azapagic
- Sustainable Industrial Systems, Department of Chemical Engineering and Analytical Science, The University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK.
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Ridoutt B, Anastasiou K, Baird D, Garcia JN, Hendrie G. Cropland Footprints of Australian Dietary Choices. Nutrients 2020; 12:E1212. [PMID: 32344857 PMCID: PMC7282022 DOI: 10.3390/nu12051212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2020] [Revised: 04/23/2020] [Accepted: 04/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Food systems vitally depend on croplands, which are a scarce natural resource. Croplands are also heterogeneous, differing in productive capability and in environmental context. Some are in regions of high biodiversity conservation importance, others in regions vulnerable to food insecurity. In this study, life cycle assessment was used to quantify cropland scarcity footprints, cropland biodiversity footprints and cropland malnutrition footprints for 9341 individual Australian adult daily diets. Dietary cropland scarcity footprints averaged 7.1 m2yr-e person-1 day-1, exceeding a target of 6.1 m2yr-e person-1 day-1, consistent with the proposed global cropland planetary boundary of 15% of the ice-free land area. Discretionary foods, which are energy-dense and nutrient-poor foods high in saturated fat, added sugars and salt, and alcohol and are not essential to a healthy diet, made the largest contribution, followed by fresh meats and alternatives, breads and cereals, fruit, dairy and alternatives and vegetables. Around 45% of the variation in cropland footprint between individuals was explained by differences in total dietary energy intake. Diets characterised by higher diet quality and lower cropland scarcity footprint required only 4.2 m2yr-e person-1 day-1 and recommended diets based on the food choices of this subgroup required 5.9 m2yr-e person-1 day-1. Eating within the global cropland planetary boundary appears realistic if Australians greatly reduce their intake of discretionary foods and moderate their food choices within the "meat and alternatives" food group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bradley Ridoutt
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) Agriculture and Food, Clayton South, Victoria 3168, Australia
- Department of Agricultural Economics, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa
| | - Kim Anastasiou
- CSIRO Health and Biosecurity, Adelaide, South Australia 5000, Australia; (K.A.); (D.B.); (G.H.)
| | - Danielle Baird
- CSIRO Health and Biosecurity, Adelaide, South Australia 5000, Australia; (K.A.); (D.B.); (G.H.)
| | | | - Gilly Hendrie
- CSIRO Health and Biosecurity, Adelaide, South Australia 5000, Australia; (K.A.); (D.B.); (G.H.)
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Sabia E, Gauly M, Napolitano F, Serrapica F, Cifuni GF, Claps S. Dairy sheep carbon footprint and ReCiPe end-point study. Small Rumin Res 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.smallrumres.2020.106085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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Effect of Feed Concentrate Intake on the Environmental Impact of Dairy Cows in an Alpine Mountain Region Including Soil Carbon Sequestration and Effect on Biodiversity. SUSTAINABILITY 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/su12052128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Several studies on the environmental impacts of livestock enterprises are based on the application of life cycle assessments (LCA). In Alpine regions, soil carbon sequestration can play an important role in reducing environmental impacts. However, there is no official methodology to calculate this possible reduction. Biodiversity plays an important role in the Alpine environment and is affected by human activities, such as cattle farming. Our aim was to estimate the carbon footprint (CF) of four different dairy production systems (different in breeds and feeding intensity) by using the LCA approach. The present study included 44 dairy Alpine farms located in the autonomous province of Bolzano in northern Italy. Half of the farms (n = 22) kept Alpine Grey and the other half (n = 22) Brown Swiss cattle. Within breeds, the farms were divided by the amount of concentrated feed per cow and day into high concentrate (HC) and low concentrate (LC). This resulted in 11 Alpine Grey low concentrate (AGLC) farms feeding an average amount of 3.0 kg concentrated feed/cow/day and 11 Alpine Grey high concentrate (AGHC) farms with an average amount of 6.3 kg concentrated feed/cow/day. Eleven farms kept Brown Swiss cows with an average amount of 3.7 kg concentrated feed/cow/day (BSLC) and another 11 farms feeding on average 7.6 kg concentrated feed/cow/day (BSHC). CF for the four systems was estimated using the LCA approach. The functional unit was 1 kg of fat and protein corrected milk (FPCM). Furthermore, two methodologies have been applied to estimate soil carbon sequestration and effect on biodiversity. The system with the lowest environmental impact in terms of CF was BSHC (1.14 kg CO2-eq/kg of FPCM), while the most impactful system was the AGLC group (1.55 kg CO2-eq/kg of FPCM). Including the CF reduction due to soil carbon sequestered from grassland, it decreased differently for the two applied methods. For all four systems, the main factor for CF was enteric emission, while the main pollutant was biogenic CH4. Conversely, AGLC had the lowest impact when the damage to biodiversity was considered (damage score = 0.41/kg of FPCM, damage to ecosystem diversity = 1.78 E-07 species*yr/kg FPCM). In comparison, BSHC had the greatest impact in terms of damage to biodiversity (damage score = 0.56/kg of FPCM, damage to ecosystem diversity = 2.49 E-07 species*yr/kg FPCM). This study indicates the importance of including soil carbon sequestration from grasslands and effects on biodiversity when calculating the environmental performance of dairy farms.
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Pho QH, Losic D, Ostrikov K(K, Tran NN, Hessel V. Perspectives on plasma-assisted synthesis of N-doped nanoparticles as nanopesticides for pest control in crops. REACT CHEM ENG 2020. [DOI: 10.1039/d0re00069h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Green plasma-based technology production of N-doped NPs for a new agri-tech revolution in pest control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quoc Hue Pho
- School of Chemical Engineering and Advanced Materials
- The University of Adelaide
- Adelaide
- Australia
| | - Dusan Losic
- School of Chemical Engineering and Advanced Materials
- The University of Adelaide
- Adelaide
- Australia
- The ARC Graphene Research Hub
| | - Kostya (Ken) Ostrikov
- School of Chemistry, Physics, and Mechanical Engineering
- Queensland University of Technology
- Brisbane
- Australia
| | - Nam Nghiep Tran
- School of Chemical Engineering and Advanced Materials
- The University of Adelaide
- Adelaide
- Australia
- School of Chemical Engineering
| | - Volker Hessel
- School of Chemical Engineering and Advanced Materials
- The University of Adelaide
- Adelaide
- Australia
- School of Engineering
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Sala S, Castellani V. The consumer footprint: Monitoring sustainable development goal 12 with process-based life cycle assessment. JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION 2019; 240:118050. [PMID: 31839697 PMCID: PMC6886560 DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.118050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2019] [Revised: 08/06/2019] [Accepted: 08/14/2019] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Sustainable and responsible production and consumption are at the heart of sustainable development, explicitly mentioned as one of the sustainable development goals (SDG12). Life cycle assessment, with its integrated holistic approach, is considered a reference method for the assessment of the environmental impact of production and consumption. This paper presents a study on the environmental impacts of final consumption in Europe in five areas of consumption: food, mobility, housing, household goods, and appliances. Based on the selection of a set of representative products to meet food, mobility, housing, and other consumers' needs, environmental impacts of products are assessed over their full life cycle: from raw material extraction to production, distribution, use, and end-of-life phase. Life cycle inventories of representative products are multiplied by consumption statistics to assess the impact of an average European citizen in 2010 and 2015. Impacts are assessed considering the sixteen impact categories of the Environmental Footprint method. Results reveal that food is the most relevant area of consumption driving environmental impacts. Use phase is the most important life cycle stage for many impact categories, especially for the areas of consumption housing, mobility, and appliances. For the areas of consumption food and household goods, the most important life cycle phase is related to upstream processes, which corresponds to agricultural activities for food and manufacturing of products components for household goods. Apart from the results, the paper includes a detailed discussion on further methodological improvements and research needs to make use of the Consumer Footprint as an indicator for monitoring SDG 12 and for supporting sustainable production and consumption policies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serenella Sala
- European Commission - Joint Research Centre, Via E. Fermi 2749, 21027, Ispra, Italy
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