Summary
This life cycle assessment of 210 maize farms across three size categories in India quantifies the trade-offs between farm scale and environmental-economic performance. The study demonstrates that whilst large farms generate higher absolute gross returns, small and medium farms achieve superior net revenue per unit and substantially lower per-hectare greenhouse gas emissions (2.305–2.364 t CO2e/ha versus 2.600 t CO2e/ha on large farms), alongside reduced acidification and eutrophication potentials. The findings suggest that optimised small- and medium-scale farming systems, potentially supported by collaborative approaches to sustainable inputs and technologies, represent a more resource-efficient pathway for maize production when both environmental and economic sustainability are prioritised.
UK applicability
The findings have limited direct applicability to UK maize farming, which operates at different scales, under different climatic conditions, and with substantially higher mechanisation and input use. However, the methodological approach of conducting integrated life cycle and economic assessment across farm size categories could inform UK agricultural sustainability policy and farm-level decision-making regarding the efficiency-equity trade-offs in intensification.
Key measures
Global warming potential (t CO2e/ha), acidification potential, eutrophication potential, gross returns, net revenue, production costs per unit, carbon efficiency, carbon sustainability index
Outcomes reported
The study measured environmental impacts (global warming potential, acidification, eutrophication) and economic performance (gross returns, net revenue, production costs) across small, medium, and large maize farms in India. It assessed the relationship between farm size, resource use intensity, emissions, and economic efficiency in maize grain production.
Topic tags
Dig deeper with Pulse AI.
Pulse AI has read the whole catalogue. Ask about this record, its theme, or how the findings apply to UK farming and policy — every answer cites the underlying studies.