Abstract
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 118816 |
| Journal | Journal of cleaner production |
| Volume | 244 |
| Number of pages | 18 |
| ISSN | 0959-6526 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2020 |
Keywords
- Pork production
- Supply chain
- Life cycle assessment
- Super-chilling
- Arable land use
- Human edible protein required
Cite this
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Life cycle assessment of Danish pork exports using different cooling technologies and comparison of upstream supply chain efficiencies between Denmark, China and Australia. / Bonou, Alexandra; Colley, Tracey Anne; Hauschild, Michael Zwicky; Olsen, Stig Irving; Birkved, Morten.
In: Journal of cleaner production, Vol. 244, 118816, 2020.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
TY - JOUR
T1 - Life cycle assessment of Danish pork exports using different cooling technologies and comparison of upstream supply chain efficiencies between Denmark, China and Australia
AU - Bonou, Alexandra
AU - Colley, Tracey Anne
AU - Hauschild, Michael Zwicky
AU - Olsen, Stig Irving
AU - Birkved, Morten
PY - 2020
Y1 - 2020
N2 - This study completed a cradle-to-retailer life cycle assessment of Danish export pork and provided a comparative assessment of six after cooling technologies for the supply of pork meat to three markets, Denmark, China and Australia. Nine different pork products delivered to retailers were assessed for fourteen midpoint impact categories. Given the higher efficiency of the Danish pork production system, the relatively small impact of transportation, the relatively large contribution of feed production, and the higher yield of crop production in Denmark, Danish pork production could provide a more sustainable pork supply if issues relating to consumer acceptance of superchilled products and cold chain integrity can be addressed. The human edible protein required (HEPR) in feed to produce one kilogram of human edible protein was over 4 for all supply chains, Denmark had the lowest value of 4.17, 4.27 for Australia and 4.56-5.52 for China, largely due to differences in feed conversion efficiencies. The amount of arable land required to produce one kilogram of human edible pork protein ranged from 38 m2 in Denmark, to 44-51 m2 in China and 161 m2 in Australia, due to large differences in crop yields of the feed ingredients. Pork production is therefore a net consumer of human edible protein and HEPR and arable land use are useful metrics by which to assess food supply chains. The life cycle assessment study was undertaken as part of an industry research project into using new superchilling technologies for exporting Danish pork to distant markets as fresh rather than frozen product, and the HEPR and arable land study was undertaken as part of a PhD on the sustainability of agribusiness value chains.
AB - This study completed a cradle-to-retailer life cycle assessment of Danish export pork and provided a comparative assessment of six after cooling technologies for the supply of pork meat to three markets, Denmark, China and Australia. Nine different pork products delivered to retailers were assessed for fourteen midpoint impact categories. Given the higher efficiency of the Danish pork production system, the relatively small impact of transportation, the relatively large contribution of feed production, and the higher yield of crop production in Denmark, Danish pork production could provide a more sustainable pork supply if issues relating to consumer acceptance of superchilled products and cold chain integrity can be addressed. The human edible protein required (HEPR) in feed to produce one kilogram of human edible protein was over 4 for all supply chains, Denmark had the lowest value of 4.17, 4.27 for Australia and 4.56-5.52 for China, largely due to differences in feed conversion efficiencies. The amount of arable land required to produce one kilogram of human edible pork protein ranged from 38 m2 in Denmark, to 44-51 m2 in China and 161 m2 in Australia, due to large differences in crop yields of the feed ingredients. Pork production is therefore a net consumer of human edible protein and HEPR and arable land use are useful metrics by which to assess food supply chains. The life cycle assessment study was undertaken as part of an industry research project into using new superchilling technologies for exporting Danish pork to distant markets as fresh rather than frozen product, and the HEPR and arable land study was undertaken as part of a PhD on the sustainability of agribusiness value chains.
KW - Pork production
KW - Supply chain
KW - Life cycle assessment
KW - Super-chilling
KW - Arable land use
KW - Human edible protein required
U2 - 10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.118816
DO - 10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.118816
M3 - Journal article
VL - 244
JO - Journal of Cleaner Production
JF - Journal of Cleaner Production
SN - 0959-6526
M1 - 118816
ER -