Authors
Létinois, Ulla; Durlinger, Bart; Kok, Bjorn
Abstract
Animal production systems are essential in global food security. At the same time, they are an important source of environmental impacts such as global warming, land use (change), water use, eutrophication, and acidification. The impacts can significantly be mitigated through various system management changes, technical and feed optimizations. Due to the diversity of animal production systems, it is challenging to determine the overall impact of various mitigation options. Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) can be used to assess the environmental performance of mitigation options. However, LCAs require specific knowledge about emission modelling and assessment standards which may be lacking in organizations. To be able to assess and communicate impacts of animal derived protein including mitigation measures along the value chain we developed the Animal Production Systems footprint tool (APS-footprint) to facilitate the establishment of LCAs of animal derived footprint at farm level. We demonstrate its use by modeling the environmental performance of the average dairy, fattening pig and broiler farm in the Netherlands. Additionally, we show the environmental impact of selected interventionson in these three systems.