Graphical Recording during the Agroscope Day "Life cycle assessment platform for agriculture and food industry" (copyright Agroscope, by Filippo Buzzini, Sketchy Solutions)
Targeted Imports and Less Food Waste Reduce ‘Foodprint’
Agroscope calculated that the environmental impact can be improved if food is imported from countries of origin with especially environmentally friendly agricultural production systems. The avoidance of food loss and waste is even more effective in achieving this aim.
Policy-makers and society are united in the desire for an environmentally friendly agriculture and food sector. In order to meet these expectations, a comprehensive environmental-impact assessment is necessary. In this way, we ensure that the measures developed achieve the desired effect without resulting in any undesirable side-effects. The SALCA Project develops and uses the LCA method and calculation tools to this end.
Sustainably run farms are of paramount importance for the future of the agriculture and food sector. This project develops operationalisable indicators for the comprehensive assessment of the sustainability of farms in each of the three dimensions of environment, economy, and social matters. The results of the farm assessments are to be used to improve management strategies.
The results of the life-cycle assessment calculations show that Drinking-Water Initiative measures would reduce pesticide and nutrient pollution in Swiss waters. Overall, however, rising food imports would lead to increased environmental pollution.
In an in-depth study, Agroscope analysed the possible environmental impacts of implementing the Drinking-Water Initiative. The life-cycle assessment shows that pesticide and nutrient pollution of Swiss water bodies and groundwater could be reduced. In addition, inland biodiversity could be improved slightly. Overall, however, rising food imports would lead to increased environmental pollution.
