Life Cycle Assessment and Ecosystem Services of Agromining

Abstract

Starting from the concept of sustainability and the need for metrics to assess it, this chapter presents the basics of the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology and its different versions (attributional versus consequential, static versus dynamic). Key issues related to the application of LCA to agromining, either on natural soils (such as ultramafic soils) or on anthropogenically polluted areas (such as mine tailings) are highlighted. Land use impacts are described more specifically: these are linked to the ecosystem services rendered by land systems and characterized via indicators that attempt to quantify soil organic carbon content, biodiversity, and land erosion by rainfall and wind. In spite of the actual limitations on quantification of land use impacts, which are not specific to agromining projects, Life Cycle Assessment offers a framework for agrominers to discuss assess their projects in terms of sustainability.