LCA Food 2012 in Saint Malo, France! - Manifestations et colloques ...

GROUP 1, SESSION A: ANIMAL PRODUCTION SYSTEMS 8 th Int. Conference on LCA in the
Agri-Food Sector, 1-4 Oct 2012
33. A framework for sustainability comparison of seafood supply
chains
Angel Avadí 1,* , Pierre Fréon 2
1 UMR 212 EME, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), Université Montpellier II, CRH, BP
171, 34203, Sète, France, 2 UMR 212 EME, IRD, Centre de Recherche Halieutique Méditerranéenne et
Tropicale (CRH), BP 171, 34203, Sète, France, Corresponding author. E-mail: angel.avadi@ird.fr
The research, carried out in the context of the ANCHOVETA-SC project (http://anchovetasc.wikispaces.com),
proposes a modelling and sustainability assessment framework for comparing competing
seafood supply chains based on common inputs, in terms of a selected indicators focusing on environmental
and socio-economic performance, with emphasis on environmental and energy performance. The
approach allows for comparison of alternative stock exploitation scenarios and transformation strategies.
Competing seafood supply chains are modelled in terms of their material and energy flows and, from a life
cycle perspective, several tools and approaches are combined and applied to assess their sustainability. LCA
is used for environmental impact assessment (including seafood-specific impact categories), but further
analyses on energy efficiency and nutritional value of feed ingredients and seafood co-products are carried
out. Basic socio-economic data is also compiled and used for estimating socio-economic performance by
means of key indicators. A trophic model of the exploited marine ecosystem sourcing the studied systems is
integrated within the supply chain model in order to capture the ecosystem-fishery interactions. The resulting
supply chain model is implemented in a material flow modelling tool. This framework thus extends the ecosystem/supply
chain coupled model proposed by Christensen et al. (2011) by accounting for biophysical
flows. To test the framework, scenario comparisons of supply chains based on Peruvian anchoveta (Engraulis
ringens) fishmeal are carried out. Scenarios are generated by varying the fishing stage, in terms of catches
volumes of anchoveta (and its predators) and the intended “fate” of landings (direct or indirect human consumption,
served by different fleets and delivering different final products/species to consumers).
The material flow modelling tool used proves useful for representation of interdependent industrial processes
(i.e. supply chains) as Petri nets (Fig. 1) and Sankey diagrams, as well as providing the programming environment
required to code the required material, energy and monetary flows logic. LCA and other life cycle
tools provided the data and methods for extending the material and energy flows analysis towards sustainability
assessment, in such a way that basic mass and energy flows are complemented with specific biophysical
flows (e.g. energy/nutritional value of substances). Indicators used (Fig. 2; Table 1), scaled respect to a
functional unit, are based on a) energy use: Cumulative Energy Demand; b) energy efficiency: edible protein
EROI (Tyedmers 2000); c) seafood-specific impact categories: Biotic Resource Use approximated from the
primary production appropriation of feed ingredients, especially fish-derived (Pauly & Christensen, 1995)
and a related ecological footprint; and d) nutritional value for the consumer: protein/lipid content of raw materials
and co-products. Socio-economic factors considered are limited to the most accessible ones (employment,
added value). Alternative exploitation scenarios along the whole ecosystem-supply chain are obtained
by coupling models: outputs from a published trophic model (Ecopath with Ecosim) of the Humboldt Current
ecosystem are used as inputs of a material flow analysis model (Umberto). The coupled model, indicators
and communication devices are currently in progress.
Conclusions derived from the model will be suitable for policy recommendations regarding exploitation volumes
and seafood processing strategies, aiming at different interests: ecosystem health, human nutrition,
food security, energy efficiency, reduction of environmental impacts and rent redistribution.
References
Christensen, V., Steenbeek, J., & Failler, P., 2011. A combined ecosystem and value chain modeling approach
for evaluating societal cost and benefit of fishing. Ecological Modelling, 222(3), 857-864.
Pauly, D., & Christensen, V., 1995. Primary production required to sustain global fisheries. Nature,
374(6519), 255-257.
Tyedmers, P., 2000. Salmon and Sustainability: The biophysical cost of producing salmon through the commercial
salmon fishery and the intensive salmon culture industry. Ph.D. Dissertation. The University of
British Columbia.
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