Life cycle inventory and emissions modelling in organic field crop LCA studies: review and recommendations

Abstract

The purpose of this manuscript is to review LCA studies of organic field crops to identify best practices in collecting life cycle inventory data. Previous LCA studies of organic field crops from 2010 to 2021 were identified and data were collected in the following categories: 1) crops studied, 2) geographical locations and spatial resolution, 3) life cycle inventory data collected, 4) models used for estimating changes in soil carbon and for estimating field-level emissions and their associated data inputs. Based on these data, recommendations were made with respect to the best data to collect, and emissions and soil carbon models to use for LCAs of organic field crops. Based on the assessment of LCI inventory data collected for activities, inputs and emissions modelling, a list of recommendations for future LCI data collection for organic field crops was tabulated. This included the data that should come directly from farmers, as well as data from secondary sources, and the specific models that can be used for soil carbon and emissions modelling. The recommendations made based on the LCI data identified can be used to inform data collection for high quality, regionally resolved LCAs of organic field crop production.