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Resource use assessment of an agricultural system from a life cycle perspective – a dairy farm as case study

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  • Huysveld, Sophie
  • Van linden, Veerle
  • De Meester, Steven
  • Peiren, Nico
  • Muylle, Hilde
  • Lauwers, Ludwig
  • Dewulf, Jo

Abstract

Despite the great pressure on global natural resources, few LCA studies focus on total resource consumption and the efficiency of the use of those resources. Moreover, a total resource use assessment for agricultural systems is highly relevant because many of these systems have become high input/high output systems in order to achieve higher productivity. In this study, we propose a framework to evaluate total resource consumption of agricultural systems at the process level using an Exergy Analysis (EA) and at the life cycle level using an Exergetic Life Cycle Assessment (ELCA). We evaluate the applicability and usefulness of this approach based on a case study of an intensive confinement-based dairy farm in the region of Flanders, Belgium. The EA showed that more than half of the resources consumed by the dairy farm's herd was irreversibly lost, as a consequence of the second law of thermodynamics. The remaining went for almost two-thirds to manure (54%) and methane emissions (9%), while only one-third flowed to end-products, i.e. milk (32%) and the animals awaiting slaughter (2%). The ELCA identified the feed supply as the most demanding part of the dairy production chain by far, representing 93% of the resource footprint. Overall, concentrates were on average 2.5 times more resource-intensive per kg dry matter than roughages, while wet by-products were 34% and 73% less resource-intensive than roughages and concentrates, respectively. Mainly land (77%) and fossil resources (17%) were required throughout the life cycle. About 36% of the occupied land (in terms of m2*year) was located off-farm. Slightly less than one-quarter of the fossil resources were used on-farm as fuel and electricity. The on-farm use of groundwater accounted for about half of the total blue water use across the life cycle. With this paper, we show the usefulness of the proposed framework to evaluate total resource consumption of dairy farms and to identify on-farm and off-farm improvement opportunities. This framework has potential to support research on whole-farm improvement strategies such as pasture-based systems and low-input farming, and to compare populations of contrasting milk production systems.

Suggested Citation

  • Huysveld, Sophie & Van linden, Veerle & De Meester, Steven & Peiren, Nico & Muylle, Hilde & Lauwers, Ludwig & Dewulf, Jo, 2015. "Resource use assessment of an agricultural system from a life cycle perspective – a dairy farm as case study," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 135(C), pages 77-89.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:agisys:v:135:y:2015:i:c:p:77-89
    DOI: 10.1016/j.agsy.2014.12.008
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Van linden, Veerle & Herman, Lieve, 2014. "A fuel consumption model for off-road use of mobile machinery in agriculture," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 880-889.
    2. Morris, David R. & Szargut, Jan, 1986. "Standard chemical exergy of some elements and compounds on the planet earth," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 11(8), pages 733-755.
    3. O’Brien, Donal & Shalloo, Laurence & Patton, Joe & Buckley, Frank & Grainger, Chris & Wallace, Michael, 2012. "A life cycle assessment of seasonal grass-based and confinement dairy farms," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 107(C), pages 33-46.
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    1. Huysman, Sofie & De Schaepmeester, Jonas & Ragaert, Kim & Dewulf, Jo & De Meester, Steven, 2017. "Performance indicators for a circular economy: A case study on post-industrial plastic waste," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 120(C), pages 46-54.
    2. Godadaw Misganaw & Robert Baars & Marco Verschuur & Biruh Tesfahun & Sara Endale & Demeke Haile, 2021. "Carbon footprint in the downstream dairy value chain in Ziway-Hawassa milk shed, Ethiopia," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 23(6), pages 8348-8364, June.
    3. Moretti, Michele & De Boni, Annalisa & Roma, Rocco & Fracchiolla, Mariano & Van Passel, Steven, 2016. "Integrated assessment of agro-ecological systems: The case study of the “Alta Murgia” National park in Italy," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 144(C), pages 144-155.
    4. Huysveld, Sophie & De Meester, Steven & Van linden, Veerle & Muylle, Hilde & Peiren, Nico & Lauwers, Ludwig & Dewulf, Jo, 2015. "Cumulative Overall Resource Efficiency Assessment (COREA) for comparing bio-based products with their fossil-derived counterparts," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 102(C), pages 113-127.
    5. Koesling, Matthias & Hansen, Sissel & Bleken, Marina Azzaroli, 2017. "Variations in nitrogen utilisation on conventional and organic dairy farms in Norway," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 157(C), pages 11-21.
    6. Huysveld, Sophie & Van Meensel, Jef & Van linden, Veerle & De Meester, Steven & Peiren, Nico & Muylle, Hilde & Dewulf, Jo & Lauwers, Ludwig, 2017. "Communicative farm-specific diagnosis of potential simultaneous savings in costs and natural resource demand of feed on dairy farms," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 150(C), pages 34-45.
    7. Kipling, Richard P. & Bannink, André & Bellocchi, Gianni & Dalgaard, Tommy & Fox, Naomi J. & Hutchings, Nicholas J. & Kjeldsen, Chris & Lacetera, Nicola & Sinabell, Franz & Topp, Cairistiona F.E. & va, 2016. "Modeling European ruminant production systems: Facing the challenges of climate change," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 147(C), pages 24-37.

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