Impact assessment

Macroeconomics

Agriculture

Ecology

Biology

Environmental economics

Sustainability

Archaeology

Economics

Computer science

Risk analysis (engineering)

Business

Computer network

Environmental planning

Geography

Political science

Environmental resource management

Life-cycle assessment

Sustainable development

Environmental science

Environmental impact assessment

Public administration

Agricultural productivity

Resource (disambiguation)

Production (economics)

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Agricultural Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is an effective tool for the quantitative evaluation and analysis of agricultural materials production and operation activities in various stages of the agricultural system. Based on the concept of life cycle, it comprehensively summarizes the impact of agriculture on the environment, which is an effective tool to promote the sustainability and green development of agriculture. In recent years, agricultural LCA has been widely used in the agroecosystem for resource and environmental impacts analysis. However, some challenges still exist in agricultural LCA, i.e., the environmental impact assessment index system needs to be improved; its application in different production mode is limited; and combination research with other models needs more attention. This paper discusses the above-mentioned challenges and recommends research priorities for both scientific development and improvements in practical implementation. In summary, further research is needed to construct a regional heterogeneity database and develop innovated methodologies to develop more meaningful functional units for agricultural products to complement LCA by other models. These efforts will make agricultural LCA more robust and effective in environmental impacts assessment to support decision making from individual farm to regional or (inter)national for the sustainable future of agriculture.

Life Cycle Assessment on Agricultural Production: A Mini Review on Methodology, Application, and Challenges