Life Cycle and Sustainability Assessment at the Farm Level 

Project description

This research takes a cross-sectoral approach, incorporating agriculture, environmental science, and social sciences to ensure a comprehensive and in-depth exploration of agricultural sustainability in Latvia. Using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), the project aims to meet future requirements for analyzing and reporting sustainability indicators (KPIs). The main objective is to assess the life cycle and sustainability of agricultural practices at the farm level, with the goal of developing a scientifically grounded framework and KPIs that meet sustainability reporting requirements in Latvia’s agricultural sector.

Four key research tasks have been identified, with the following methods: desktop research, thematic mapping, the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) involving international experts, and in-depth case studies. These methods will support the establishment of LCA and sustainability reporting for farms, and contribute to the development of a framework and recommendations for the agriculture sector in Latvia.

The methodology for LCA and the compilation of sustainability indicators for agriculture is not yet available in Latvia, making this research a pioneering effort in the field.