4.2. Application of digital innovation to obtain the necessary parameters for the calculation of the life cycle assessment of agricultural products
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is an objective process that assesses the environmental burdens associated with a process, system or product. The calculation of the LCA of farms is an accurate tool for waste management, design of environmental strategies, reduction of negative impacts and assessment of research needs, all of which are included in the objectives of the CAP 2023-2027. This action will focus on the LCA of olive, tomato and vineyard farms in two delimited regions of both countries; for this purpose, a first phase of search, characterisation and classification of farms is proposed, categorising them according to their physical and activity parameters.
During the LCA inventory phase, those parameters whose quantification represents a notable difference in their use with respect to those existing in libraries will be identified. Subsequently, two strategies will be implemented: on the one hand, systematic and automated data collection will be facilitated for those parameters that allow it, using LORAWAN technology and storing the data in a cloud repository. On the other hand, for those substances that can be quantified analytically, a significant measurement will be carried out in experimental plots, in order to take these values as the activity in the regions and supplementing the data provided by the published libraries.
The final result of the task will be twofold: first, a comparison of each of the selected farms will be made with the average of their category, this comparison will reveal those farms that have points of improvement for each of the categories studied in the LCA, and improvements in their activity will be proposed to them. In addition, an open access page will be developed where companies, users and public centres can consult the parameters studied; it will be open access and will allow the integration of new sensors and crops.
Lead: CICYTEX
Participants: SFCOLAB, UEX, INIAV, CTAEX
The work carried out within the scope of this action has been disseminated in:
- XVIII Congreso Nacional de Ciencias Hortícolas SECH Valencia, 9-12 June 2025
- VII FORO Agricultura 4.0 Torres Vedras, 1 July 2025
What is Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and how can it help your farming operation?
Life Cycle Assessment, or LCA, is a tool that allows us to understand the environmental impact of a product or crop throughout its entire life cycle. That is, from the extraction of raw materials to the end of its use, including production, usage, and final treatment or recycling. This methodology is governed by international standards (ISO 14040 and 14044), which ensures that the results are reliable and comparable.
In the case of LCAs for agricultural crops, a large amount of data related to farm management is required. This may include the quantity and types of fertilisers used, plant protection treatments applied, volume of water consumed, machinery used, and harvested yields, among many other factors. Often, these data are collected through surveys, but we know that records are not always up to date or detailed enough, which can make the analysis quite complex.
That’s why, as part of the TID4AGRO project, we’ve developed a digital platform to make data collection easier. Through this platform, farmers can input information directly in a simple way. Additionally, the platform can be connected to sensors that use LoRaWAn® communication technology. These sensors allow for the automatic measurement of data such as working times, water consumption, or fertiliser use, without the farmer needing to intervene.
With this information, not only can the calculation of environmental impact be improved, but better decisions can also be made to save inputs and make the farm more efficient and sustainable.
Link to the digital LCA platform: https://acv.dtagro.es/