Multiscale Integrated Evaluation of Agricultural Systems. An Extended LCA Approach

Abstract

The overall goal of the present study is to find integrated patterns and synergies among different approaches for the evaluation of complex production systems. In order to merge the different methodological, spatial and time-scale perspectives, an extended LCA framework (SUMMA, Sustainability Multi-method Multi-scale Assessment) is developed and tested focusing on the dynamics and performance of the agricultural sector in Italy. The SUMMA framework builds on LCA inventory and results complemented by the quality and time perspectives of the Emergy Synthesis method by which the free renewable flows, embodied time, direct and indirect labour, as well as economic and quality aspects are accounted for. The study, carried out within the EU funded SMILE project, is aimed at developing an integrated evaluation tool taking into account environmental, economic and social aspects, identification of drivers for change, and potential synergies. The development of an integrated model is crucial: the flows of energy and materials, land use, the rate of using resources, interrelations of socioeconomic and natural systems, and the time and spatial scales are all interlinked and cannot be evaluated separately without losing generality and wholeness. Most often, the economic performance, due to links with employment and social parameters (economic and social sustainability), is the aspect considered with more interest by policy makers and managers. Nevertheless, a comprehensive assessment cannot disregard environmental aspects and use of resource being important requisites of sustainability for the evaluation of different sectors or processes.