For the ECOALIM dataset, several system perimeters were defined (Fig 1 ): field gate, storage-agency gate, plant gate, and harbour gate. The field gate is relevant for assessing impacts of on-farm feed production (i.e. crops produced and directly used on-farm). Feed formulation by feed companies requires additional perimeters: plant gate for the co-products of cereals, oilseeds and protein crops (e.g. meals) as well as for industrial products (e.g. amino acids) processed in France; storage-agency gate for cereals (perimeter includes grain drying); and harbour gate for imported feed ingredients.
The impacts considered were climate change with (CCLUC) or without land-use change (CC), eutrophication (EU), acidification (AC), land occupation (LO), non-renewable (CEDNR) and total energy demand (CEDTOT) and P demand (PD). PD was included to account for the non-renewable P resource incorporated in fertilisers and feeds. The other impact categories are usually included in agricultural LCAs.
When a production process generates multiple final co-products, it is necessary to allocate the process’s impacts to the co-products. In ECOALIM, impacts of co-products of cereals and maize, as well as oils and meals, were calculated using economic allocation. To perform this allocation based on the relative economic value of each co-product, the Olympic five-year (2008–2012) average price of each co-product was calculated. The functional unit used is kilogram of feed ingredient at the reference water content, which is the usual functional unit for feed ingredients.
The impacts considered were climate change with (CCLUC) or without land-use change (CC), eutrophication (EU), acidification (AC), land occupation (LO), non-renewable (CEDNR) and total energy demand (CEDTOT) and P demand (PD). PD was included to account for the non-renewable P resource incorporated in fertilisers and feeds. The other impact categories are usually included in agricultural LCAs.
When a production process generates multiple final co-products, it is necessary to allocate the process’s impacts to the co-products. In ECOALIM, impacts of co-products of cereals and maize, as well as oils and meals, were calculated using economic allocation. To perform this allocation based on the relative economic value of each co-product, the Olympic five-year (2008–2012) average price of each co-product was calculated. The functional unit used is kilogram of feed ingredient at the reference water content, which is the usual functional unit for feed ingredients.
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