What are some life cycle assessment applications for the food industry?

There is no one way to calculate a carbon footprint of a product which makes is impossible to compare products from different companies. From a product perspective focus on avoiding product waste to improve sustainability. The biggest portion of the carbon footprint will be your product. From a packaging perspective, investigate re-usable (partly or completely) packaging solutions and if not possible push for recyclable solutions to support circularity. From a sourcing perspective, local sourcing should be prioritized if possible.

The current food supply chain ecosystem is due for an overhaul for various reasons two of the most important one's being consumers asking where my food is coming from and the other what is the impact of this food on my planet. LCA design in collaboration with emerging technologies like Blockchain can help solve this problem by providing transparency, provenance and accountability for every member of the supply chain ecosystem. These technologies can also help calculating the carbon foot print and providing carbon credits to create a net zero environment. These inbuilt mechanisms can track operations, procurement, production, quality control, packaging, distribution, logistics, retailer creating a responsive, profitable, green supply chains.

Starting with ingredients involves AI/ML solutions evaluating ecological footprints, integrating diverse data, employing pattern recognition, and offering optimization suggestions. Social responsibility should be maintained through fair labor practices. LCA can guide on the design of environmentally responsible food items aligned with consumer preferences. Blockchain technology can monitor on social responsibility for transparency. In packaging, processing, and distribution, real-time monitoring via IoT sensors and data analytics to ensure quality and efficiency. AI can optimizes energy usage, production efficiency, and waste reduction, while blockchain can enhance traceability for authenticity and sustainability in the supply chain.

While sustainability is on everyone’s mind, LCA is an effective tool that helps quantifying the materials used and the impact on the environment. Let’s just take environmental costs of food waste. The economic costs of food waste are staggering. However, the environmental impacts of food waste are even more eye-opening. According to Forbes, about 1.3B tons of food is wasted worldwide every year. Much of this food ends up in landfills, although a new trend known as food upcycling is helping to alleviate some food waste. A variety of emerging technologies have the potential to reduce waste, increase food security, and decrease emissions. The most valuable tool in the fight against waste is using Blockchain in food supply chain management.

In the food industry, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is revolutionizing supply chain sustainability. By examining environmental impacts from production to disposal, LCA identifies efficiency gaps and waste reduction opportunities. It aids in resource management, guiding innovations in reducing water, energy, and raw material use. Businesses benefit from enhanced brand image, improved compliance, and market access, while fostering innovation. As a sustainability tool, LCA not only optimizes processes but also aligns industry practices with ecological stewardship, driving sustainable development in the food supply chain.

The 1996 Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Act allows federal protections for food-permitted businesses that donate consumable foods. They must partner with nonprofits that redistribute food items to communities, such as food banks and soup kitchens. And, as long as the foods are donated "in good faith" and are kept to proper time and temperature codes through the health department, businesses are protected. Donations are preferable over composting as stated in the EPA's Food Recovery Hierarchy because it meets the "higher and better use" in this scenario. Also, food donations are tax-deductible. All you need is a donation manifest and the cost of each item. Businesses can get 15% tax credit for the fair market value of these donated items!

Food industry and the environment go hand in hand. A detailed LCA and government regulations can streamline the processes to create a net zero environment. Once such regulation is FDA's FSMA 204. FSMA (The Food Safety Modernization Act) is the FDA’s solution for implementing legislation to reduce outbreaks of foodborne illnesses. The goal of FSMA laws is to encourage food handlers and producers to put more effort into averting food safety problems at an early stage. As a result of the FSMA laws, the FDA now has increased power to enforce food safety standards. These standards along with LCA designs can create a more streamlined food supply chain ecosystems and benefit the humankind.

A great amount of research is done on the impact of sustainable food practices and how it boosts public health. A conscious efforts needs to be made by governments, non-profits and corporations about LCA and its methodologies along with latest technologies in the food ecosystem and its benefits. Few areas where such education can take center stage is food waste in food production, nutrient depletion affecting public health. By consciously working and educating to reduce food waste, reverse nutrient depletion, and implement sustainable practices, the food production system can help improve the health of both the planet and the people who live there.

The impact of COVID-19 taught us that it is very important to have visibility into supply chain inventory as a whole. Being able to identify where products are at any point in time can create opportunities to mitigate disruptions, which we all know happen frequently. This has been emphasized by the FDA passing FSMA Section 204(d), which looks to link the food supply chain from harvest to customer-facing sale for select products. This end-to-end connection will not only enhance the ability to identify key lots of products for food safety reasons, but can be the "jump-start" to a digital exchange of information that enables an industry to transact more effectively. The next step of operational savings is external, not internal.

LCA can serve up sustainability by promoting upcycled food. Food sustainability has become a hot topic these days. The term “upcycle” is essentially the opposite of “recycle.” Upcycled food is not made from used ingredients. Instead, these products are made from ingredients that would have been disposed of otherwise.Fruits and vegetables are the primary types of foods used in upcycling. Fruits and vegetables are inspected during each leg of the food supply chain. Farmers, manufacturers, distributors, and retailers will dispose of fruits and vegetables that lack visual appeal or exhibit notable imperfections. LCA designs can educate and provide guidelines on the benefits of food upcycle that can address food insecurity and become mainstream.