Global warming contributions from wheat,sheep meat and wool production in Victoria,Australia – a life cycle assessment |
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| Authors: | Wahidul K Biswas John Graham Kevin Kelly Michele B John |
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| Institution: | 1. Centre of Excellence in Cleaner Production, Curtin University of Technology, Western Austalia 6845, Australia;2. Department of Primary Industries, Victoria 3300, Australia;1. AgResearch Limited, Ruakura Research Centre, Hamilton, New Zealand;2. AgResearch Limited, Grasslands Research Centre, Palmerston North, New Zealand;1. CNR—IBIMET, Institute of Biometeorology, National Research Council, Trav. La Crucca 3, Reg. Baldinca, 07100 Sassari, Italy;2. CNR—ISPAAM, Institute for Animal Production System in Mediterranean Environment, National Research Council, Trav. La Crucca 3, Reg. Baldinca, 07100 Sassari, Italy;1. Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies, Institute of Management, Piazza Martiri Della Libertà 33, 56127, Pisa, Italy;2. Sino-Us Global Logistics Institute (SUGLI), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 1954 Huashan Rd., Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200030, PR China;3. Dep. of Management and Law Faculty of Economics, University of Rome Tor Vergata Via Columbia, 2 - 00133, Rome, Italy;1. New Zealand Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand;2. AgResearch Ltd, Ruakura Research Centre, Hamilton 3240, New Zealand;1. Engineering Department, Dalhousie University, Faculty of Agriculture, P.O. Box 550, Truro, NS, Canada B2N5E3;2. Rural Research Centre, Dalhousie University, Faculty of Agriculture, P.O. Box 550, Truro, NS, Canada B2N5E3 |
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| Abstract: | This paper compares the life cycle global warming potential of three of Australia’s important agricultural production activities – the production of wheat, meat and wool in grazed subterranean clover (sub-clover) dominant pasture and mixed pasture (perennial ryegrass/phalaris/sub-clover/grass and cape weed) systems. Two major stages are presented in this life cycle assessment (LCA) analysis: pre-farm, and on-farm. The pre-farm stage includes greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from agricultural machinery, fertilizer, and pesticide production and the emissions from the transportation of these inputs to paddock. The on-farm stage includes GHG emissions due to diesel use in on-farm transport and processing (e.g. seeding, spraying, harvesting, topdressing, sheep shearing), and non-CO2 (nitrous oxide (N2O), and methane (CH4)) emissions from pastures and crop grazing of lambs.The functional unit of this life cycle analysis is the GHG emissions (carbon dioxide equivalents – CO2 -e) from 1 kg of wheat, sheep meat and wool produced from sub-clover, wheat and mixed pasture plots. The GHG emissions (e.g. CO2, N2O and CH4 emission) from the production, transportation and use of inputs (e.g. fertilizer, pesticide, farm machinery operation) during pre-farm and on-farm stages are also included. The life cycle GHG emissions of 1 kg of wool is significantly higher than that of wheat and sheep meat. The LCA analysis identified that the on-farm stage contributed the most significant portion of total GHG emissions from the production of wheat, sheep meat and wool. This LCA analysis also identified that CH4 emissions from enteric methane production and from the decomposition of manure accounted for a significant portion of the total emissions from sub-clover and mixed pasture production, whilst N2O emissions from the soil have been found to be the major source of GHG emissions from wheat production. |
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