Application of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to cereal production: an overview

Abstract Cereals have been the basis of human and animal nutrition for centuries, according to Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) (2020), between 1961-2019 their global production increased by +240%, reaching about 3 billion tons, accounting 18% climate-changing emissions from agro-food sector. Continued population growth will lead need produce more food, keep up it is estimated that cereal increase 900 million tons 2050, posing an inevitable in environmental pressures. Therefore, new challenge be reconcile with sustainable agricultural practices, line Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). Since essential globally relevant commodities, important assess study its associated effects. In this context, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) recognized international scientific community as a useful tool assessment impacts caused products, processes or systems validation paradigms. aim research carry out overview literature most recent applications LCA related cereals, order highlight main criticalities, also different methods various Countries. three major cereals (corn, wheat rice) five minor ones (barley, sorghum, millet, oats rye) were considered results showed all crops hotspot application use fertilizers. However, studies often differed terms functional unit, impact methods, respective indicators. complete comparison was not always possible. Finally, did identify which social considered, although economic assessments are present some cases. believed consistent achievement SDGs, desirable apply Social (S-LCA) development policies consider only impacts, but ensure truly thus dimensions