Environmental assessment of organic soybean (Glycine max.) imported from China to Denmark: a case study

M. T. Knudsen^1*, Q. Yu-Hui², L. Yan² and N. Halberg³

Abstract
Growing global trade with organic products has increased the demand for environmental impact assessments during both production and transport.

Environmental hotspots of organic soybeans produced in China and imported to Denmark were identified in a case study using a life cycle assessment approach. Furthermore, environmental impacts of organic and conventional soybeans at farm gate were compared in the case study.

The total global warming potential (GWP) per ton organic soybeans imported to Denmark revealed that 51% came from transportation and 35% from the farm level. Comparing organic and conventional soybean at farm gate showed that GWP, non-renewable energy use, acidification and eutrophication was lower per ton organic soybeans, whereas land use was slightly higher.


Source
Journal of Cleaner Production (2010) 18: 1431-1439
DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2010.05.022


Author Locations and Affiliations
(1) Dept. of Agriculture and Ecology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Copenhagen, DK-2630 Taastrup, Denmark
(2) Dept. of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China
(3) International Centre for Research in Organic Food Systems (ICROFS), DK-8830 Tjele, Denmark
* Corresponding author, E-mail mariet.knudsen@agrsci.dk


Posted September 2010