Life Cycle Analysis: An Expanded Perspective

Keywords: Life cycle analysis, Agricultural cycles, Environmental impact, Sustainability.

We explore the utility of an expanded perspective for agricultural life cycle analysis. Specifically, we explore the utility of expanding life cycle analysis to include interactions with other environmental issues, institutions, and decisions that are often perceived as being external to agricultural interests. Examples of the interlinkages between agricultural life cycles and other environmental issues, especially global change issues and water quality, are presented. A short road map of recommendations for future investigations is presented.

Anthony C. Janetos and Amy Wagener, World Resources Institute, Washington DC, USA

26 pages, 2 figures, 39 refs.