Holistic sustainability assessment of winter oilseed rape ... - Inra
Holistic sustainability assessment of winter oilseed rape ... - Inra
Holistic sustainability assessment of winter oilseed rape ... - Inra
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Sustainable Intensification in Winter Oilseed RapeProduction- results from an AgBalance TM case studyMarkus Frank, Jan Schoeneboom, Martijn Gipmans & Peter SalingLCA Food 2012, St. Malo / October 02, 2012
MegatrendsKey drivers for <strong>sustainability</strong> in agricultureMegatrendsFundamentals• Population growth• Changing dietary patterns• Bi<strong>of</strong>uelFarmers challengesSustainable yieldincreaseScarce Resources• Water• Soil/ arable land• EnergySocieltal Drivers• Perception <strong>of</strong> Risks• Food Safety / residues Translated into regulationNew solutions tomanage scarceresourcesRegulatory standards &expectations fromsocietySustainable intensification is key in order to cope with these challengesINTERNAL 2
AgBalance Method DevelopmentMeasure <strong>sustainability</strong> in agriculture• <strong>Holistic</strong> method for life cycle<strong>assessment</strong> in agricultural andfood value chain productionprocesses• Designed to make informeddecisions on how to manageimprovementEco-EfficiencyAgBalanceSustainableAgriculture• Independent assurance <strong>of</strong>functionality and coherencereceived by3
The Engine Room <strong>of</strong> AgBalance ILCA & beyond…Prechain Agriculture DownchainLife CycleAssessment(ISO 14040-44)Social ImpactAssessment(UNEP-SETAC)AgBalanceTotal Life CycleCostsAg-specificIndicators(Biodiversity, Soil,Land use)4
The Engine Room <strong>of</strong> AgBalance II3 dimensions, 16 categories and 69 indicatorsSocial aspectsinclude indicators likeworking conditions, training,education, human toxicity,wages, MRL exceedanceand alsorural employment, fairtrade, access to land andsocial security.Economic aspectsinclude indicators likevariable costs, fixed costs,farm pr<strong>of</strong>itsand macro-economicindicators such assubsidies and share <strong>of</strong>agriculture in GDPEcological aspectsincludes categories likewater use, land use, energyconsumption, resourcedepletion, waste, ecotoxpotentialas well as indicators relatedtosoil health andbiodiversity.5
Life Cycle Impact AssessmentAggregation & WeightingAccess to landPart time workersChild labourWagesPr<strong>of</strong>essionaltrainingImports fromdevelopingcountriesAssociationmembershipFair tradeResiduesin feed & foodGender equalityFamily supportToxicity potential(Farmer)CapitalinvestmentsFarmer/EntrepreneurRisk potentialEmployeesForeign directinvestmentAcidificationpotentialProtected areasAbiotic resourcedepletionState indicatorAssessed totalwater usePotential forintermixingGVPToxicity potentialUnauthorized /unlabeled GMOR&DCrop rotationN-surplusEco-ToxicitypotentialSolid wasteAir emissionsFarm pr<strong>of</strong>itsInsurancesIntegrationQualifiedemployeesEmploymentGreenhousegasesNutrients balanceSoil carbonbalanceRenewableEnergyActualAgricultural areaSoil preparationLabourSocial securityTraineesOther risksWater emissionsEco-ToxicityAgrienvironmentalschemesNon-renewableEnergyAssessed totalarea (prechain)DeprecationsSeedStrikes andlockoutsFunctionalproductcharacteristicsWages/salaries(prechain anddownstreamchain)Soil erosionFarming intensityOzone depletionpotentialSoil compactionPhotochem.ozone creationpotentialFertilizationMachinerySocietyEcologyEconomyDimensionsConsumerLocal &nationalcommunityInternationalcommunityEnergyconsumptionResourceconsumptionEmissionsEco-toxicitypotentialVariablecostsFixed costsMacroeconomicFuturegenerationSoilWater use-BiodiversityLand useSUSTAINABILITY SCOREComprehensive data asa pr<strong>of</strong>ound basis for clearstatements+Maintenance/General repairSubsidiesInvestmentWider economiceffectsCategoriesOther fixed costs6Crop protectionIndicatorsCalculation FactorRelevance Factor SocietalFactor
AgBalance studyWinter Oilseed Rape Production, Northern GermanyKey Question & Starting Point:• Show changes in the <strong>sustainability</strong> performance <strong>of</strong>WOSR production in Northern Germany over thelast decadeAgBalanceYield(tons/hectare)• Yield increase from 2.7 t/ha (1998) to 4.1 t/ha (2008)• Intensified production (increased use <strong>of</strong> newvarieties and agricultural inputs)Functional Unit:• 1 t <strong>of</strong> WOSR at the field border2.74.11998 20087
AgBalance studyWinter Oilseed Rape Production, Northern GermanyAlternatives:AgBalanceGood Agricultural Practice in 1998 v. 2008.Data sources:Federal Statistic and Research Institutes,Reference Farm Network, “Test Farm” network,additional on-farm interviewsMecklenburg West-Pomerania,Northern GermanyOff the farm Preparationproduction <strong>of</strong> Inputoperating fundsCultivationHarvestingCustody/Processing Retailer DisposalTransportThese life cycle steps are not considered, since they are equal for all alternatives8
AgBalance studySustainability Performance 1998 v. 2008AgBalanceThe <strong>assessment</strong> <strong>of</strong> all <strong>sustainability</strong> indicatorsin AgBalance showed an improvement <strong>of</strong>the <strong>sustainability</strong> performance in all threedimensions from 1998 to 2008.Sustainability Performance:The overall <strong>sustainability</strong>score for Winter Oilseed Rape productionimproved by 40%19982008Intensification <strong>of</strong> production can lead to improved <strong>sustainability</strong>9
AgBalance Case StudyEconomic DimensionAgBalanceBetter bottom line performance in 2008• Improved pr<strong>of</strong>itability due to highercommodity prices and higher yields• Fixed and variable costs reduced per tonproduced in 2008• Lower contribution <strong>of</strong> subsidies to farmincome19982008Despite intensified input use, fixed and variable costs could be reduced10
AgBalance Case StudyEnvironmental DimensionAgBalancePositive development from 1998 to 2008• Potential for biodiversity developmentimproved due to increased adoption <strong>of</strong>conservation programs (“Natura 2000”) andbetter ecotox pr<strong>of</strong>ile <strong>of</strong> agrochemicals used• More efficient land use• Consumption <strong>of</strong> water, energy and resourceper functional unit reduced19982008State-<strong>of</strong>-the-art inputs, conservation programs and efficiency gains11
AgBalance Case StudySocial DimensionAgBalanceSmall changes from 1998 to 2008• Employment opportunities reduced (trade<strong>of</strong>fbetween society and economy)• Higher number <strong>of</strong> trainees in agriculture inthe region• Payments to social security insuranceshave decreased19982008• Increased imports <strong>of</strong> oil seed <strong>rape</strong> fromcountries with lower income indexHigher work-time efficiency shows trade<strong>of</strong>f between society and economy12
AgBalance Case StudyScenario AnalysisAgBalanceModification <strong>of</strong> fertilizer regimeBased on 2008 Good Agricultural Practices themainly urea-based fertilizer regime wasreplaced by an ammonium-sulphate fertilizerwith de-nitrification inhibitor (i.e. ENTEC ® 26)Results:Entec19982008• State-<strong>of</strong>-the-art nitrogen fertilizer is effectivein improving the environmental dimension <strong>of</strong><strong>sustainability</strong>• Higher fertilizer price compensated by lowerdose rates neededPredicted <strong>sustainability</strong> performance increase by the use <strong>of</strong> ENTEC ® 2613
Sustainability in Modern AgricultureConclusions• AgBalance was designed to assess<strong>sustainability</strong> in agriculture and to giveguidance for improvement programs• Oilseed Rape production in NorthernGermany comprises an example forsustainable intensification.• Broad stakeholder engagement andtransparency <strong>of</strong> the results are critical.Sustainability has become an imperative in modern agriculture -Let’s not miss the boat…!
please visit poster 167www.agbalance.agro.basf.com15
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