Contribution of LCA to decision making: A scenario analysis in territorial agricultural production systems

Territorial Life Cycle Assessment (TLCA) appears a promising method to support informed decision making of local actors in territorial agricultural production systems (TAPS), by assessing environmental impacts activities and potential strategies. The objectives this study were i) adapt TLCA methodology integrated assessment TAPS ii) evaluate TLCA's contribution supporting scenarios change TAPS. A the sector was performed for territory Aube department France, including main crops animal types from raw material extraction first stage processing. Exchanges products by-products among subsectors considered allocating impacts, which prevented double-counting them. Two contrasting assessed with – development on-farm biogas reintroduction sheep grazing compared current situation. Results expressed per unit area (ha), biomass produced (kg) percentage total before after processing (at beyond farm gate, respectively). contributors (cereal oilseed crops) did not have highest impact at scale (per ha kg), highlights that is relevant addition functional unit. Consideration exchanges showed can be used assess effects interactions (biomass flows) between sectors. Scenario results no significant differences except higher water resource depletion scenario, because most smaller than uncertainties input data. Other challenges identified, such as need consequences changes gate when performing or utility characterizing network flows more detail. In conclusion, methodological framework developed successfully identified hotspots reflected actors. Finally, it estimate future strategies, long uncertainty reduced; thus, shows decision-support tool.