Life cycle assessment of dairy production systems in Inner Mongolia: reiterate LCA modeling approaches

• Published in: The international journal of life cycle assessment Vol. 26; no. 8; pp. 1670 - 1686
• Main Authors: Wu, Susie Ruqun, Liu, Xinchao, Wang, Lulu, Xin, Xiaoping, Chen, Jiquan, Shao, Changliang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.08.2021; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Chloride channels (calcium-gated); Decision analysis; Decision making; Decision trees; Earth and Environmental Science; Emission analysis; Emissions control; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Economics; Environmental Engineering/Biotechnology; Environmental impact; Farming; Farms; Grasslands; International standards; Life cycle analysis; Life cycle assessment; Life cycles; Milk; Modelling; Modernization; Pastoralism; Productivity; Sensitivity analysis; Sustainable Food Production and Consumption; China; Inner Mongolia China; Attributional LCA; Decisional LCA; Dairy production; Consequential LCA
• ISSN: 0948-3349; 1614-7502
• DOI: 10.1007/s11367-021-01951-9

Purpose The selection of different LCA modeling approaches can lead to inconsistent applications and results. Here, we proposed decision trees to identify the most appropriate modeling approach (attributional/decisional/consequential LCA (ALCA/DLCA/CLCA)) and applied them to examine both direct and indirect impacts of different dairy production systems in Inner Mongolia (IM), China—a pastoral area subject to policy debates about modernizing traditional pastoralism systems characterized by low productivity. Methods Decision trees to select appropriate LCA modeling approaches were developed by reviewing various international standards and guidelines. Using Hulunbuir grassland as the study site, three streamlined LCAs were then conducted with a functional unit of 1 kg fat-and-protein-corrected milk (FPCM) following the proposed approach. ALCA was used to examine the direct environmental impacts of the current extensive pastoralism system (EPS). DLCA was used to explore the direct environmental impacts of a future intensive production system (IPS). CLCA was applied to assess the direct and indirect environmental impacts of transitioning EPS to IPS—a transitional production system (TPS). Results and discussion EPS showed moderate environmental impacts associated with high uncertainty due to its low productivity and data variability among surveyed farms. Following DLCA and using presumed data from a dairy company’s ESG report, IPS received relatively low impact scores due to a change in its energy structure. After incorporating indirect impacts, the CLCA results for TPS showed distinctive patterns with new environmental hotspots identified. Although the results were subject to limitations on data accuracy, a key policy implication lay in the shifting of environmental burdens due to decision making under both IPS and TPS following a sensitivity analysis. Conclusions The importance of selecting an appropriate LCA modeling approach under different study goals was reiterated, followed by three case studies in IM, China. If the current EPS were to be replaced, careful planning would be needed to avoid environmental burden shifting, with both direct and indirect impacts needing to be assessed thoroughly. Alternative emission reduction plans for EPS lie in controlling direct emissions and improving its production efficiency and energy structure.