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26 July 2019 Life cycle inventories for the Australian grains sector
Aaron T. Simmons, Alexandra Murray, Philippa M. Brock, Timothy Grant, Annette L. Cowie, Sandra Eady, Bharat Sharma
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Abstract

Grain production is a key source of food globally and is an important agricultural system for the Australian economy. Environmental impacts such as the emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) associated with grain production are well documented and the Australian grains industry has strived to ensure ongoing improvement. To facilitate this improvement, the industry funded the development of life cycle inventories to provide broad geographical coverage. Cradle-to-gate inventories for wheat were developed for each of the grains industry agro-ecological zones, and inventories were developed for minor cereal crops (e.g. barley, sorghum), oilseeds (i.e. canola) and legumes where relevant. Data for inventory development were taken from numerous sources and validated by using data collected through interviews with experts in each agro-ecological zone. Inventory data were also collected so that indicators in addition to global-warming impacts could be assessed. Global warming impacts for wheat production ranged from 193 to 567 kg carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2-e) t–1, and global warming impacts were 597–851, 333–361, 169–285 and 74–672 kg CO2-e t–1 for canola, sorghum, barley and grain-legume production, respectively. Results for eutrophication, freshwater ecotoxicity, land-use and abiotic depletion (fossil-fuel use) are also presented.

© CSIRO 2019
Aaron T. Simmons, Alexandra Murray, Philippa M. Brock, Timothy Grant, Annette L. Cowie, Sandra Eady, and Bharat Sharma "Life cycle inventories for the Australian grains sector," Crop and Pasture Science 70(7), 575-584, (26 July 2019). https://doi.org/10.1071/CP18412
Received: 5 September 2018; Accepted: 2 May 2019; Published: 26 July 2019
KEYWORDS
AEZ
dryland cropping
LCI
Life Cycle Assessment
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