Closing The Loop: A Life Cycle Assessment of Integrated Organic Feed and Egg Production In Brazil

Agriculture, including egg production, is a major contributor to environmental challenges, impacting freshwater resources, nutrient cycles, and biodiversity. As the global demand for food security rises, there is an urgent need for sustainable practices. Egg production, while nutritionally valuable, faces scrutiny for its environmental impacts. Organic egg production presents a promising, sustainable alternative. However, critical knowledge gaps persist regarding its environmental performance and the potential for circular bioeconomy practices to enhance sustainability.This thesis addresses these gaps by examining the environmental impacts of integrated organic feed and egg production in Brazil, focusing on two large-scale farms with productivity levels comparable to conventional systems. The study aims to accurately quantify these impacts, assess the environmental benefits of organic practices, and explore strategies for improving sustainability through circular bioeconomy approaches, such as by-product reuse and vaporisation. By generating high-quality primary data, the research improves Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) models, which often rely on less precise secondary data from conventional systems. Using a comprehensive LCA approach, it evaluates all production stages, from feed cultivation to egg packaging, and validates methodologies for assessing ecosystem services and soil biodiversity impacts, providing a holistic perspective on the environmental performance of organic systems. The findings reveal that organic agriculture can achieve productivity levels comparable to conventional systems while delivering clear environmental benefits across multiple impact categories, such as climate change, eutrophication, and resource depletion. Practices like crop rotation, biological pest control, and reduced reliance on synthetic fertilisers were pivotal in lowering environmental impacts. The study also highlights the sustainability benefits of recycling organic residues, particularly through composting and utilising poultry litter, fostering a closed-loop system that further reduces environmental burdens. LCA model validation demonstrated its utility in predicting certain soil quality indicators, such as soil organic carbon, soil compaction, biodiversity, and erosion potential, which are crucial for assessing soil health. However, discrepancies between model predictions and field observations for indicators like infiltration reduction potential underscore the need for methodological refinements. Incorporating site-specific data, such as soil compaction and sealing factors, and developing characterisation factors for local and regional contexts are necessary to enhance the accuracy and applicability of LCA assessments. The study concludes that integrated and circular organic farming systems hold significant potential for achieving high productivity while minimising environmental impacts. Refining LCA methodologies to capture the complexities of organic systems and tailoring them to regional conditions, particularly in Brazil, is essential. The research also underscores the importance of expanding efforts in data collection, harmonising methodologies, and integrating advanced technologies to optimise organic systems and promote their broader adoption.This thesis challenges prevailing misconceptions about organic farming, presenting compelling evidence of its potential to address food security and environmental sustainability.