Pulse Brain · Growing Health Evidence Index
Tier 4 — Narrative / commentaryPeer-reviewed

Improving carbon footprinting of agricultural systems: Boundaries, tiers, and organic farming

Cornelius Adewale, John P. Reganold, Stewart S. Higgins, R. Evans, Lynne Carpenter‐Boggs

Environmental Impact Assessment Review · 2018

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Summary

This paper addresses methodological challenges in carbon footprinting of agricultural systems, examining how different boundary definitions and analytical tier selections influence lifecycle assessment results, particularly as they apply to organic farming operations. The authors appear to evaluate current frameworks for carbon accounting and discuss implications for organic versus conventional system comparisons. As suggested by the title, the work aims to improve standardisation and transparency in carbon footprinting approaches for farming systems research.

UK applicability

The methodological frameworks discussed would be applicable to UK carbon footprinting policy and certification schemes, particularly for organic farming standards and environmental impact reporting. UK farmers and certifiers could benefit from clarity on boundary and tier selection for more consistent carbon accounting.

Key measures

Carbon footprint boundaries, lifecycle assessment tiers, greenhouse gas emissions accounting methodologies

Outcomes reported

The study examined methodological approaches to carbon footprinting in agricultural systems, with particular attention to how system boundaries and analytical tiers affect lifecycle assessment outcomes in organic versus conventional farming. The research inferred comparative carbon footprint estimates across farming system types.

Theme
Measurement & metrics
Subject
Climate & greenhouse gas mitigation
Study type
Narrative Review
Study design
Narrative review
Source type
Peer-reviewed study
Status
Published
Geography
United States
System type
Organic systems
DOI
10.1016/j.eiar.2018.04.004
Catalogue ID
BFmommpe3r-g8ycyi

Topic tags

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