LIFE-CYCLE ASSESSMENT (LCA) OF FOOD-PRODUCTS AND PRODUCTION SYSTEMS

In the late 1980s the demands for a more ecological life style and sus tainability set off intense research for methods to analyse and assess the environmental impact of products and systems. The methodology cry stallizing from this research is called life cycle assessment (LCA). T his paper presents the concept, methodology, applications and present status of LCA. LCA as applied to food production systems is discussed in terms of needs, special demands on methodology, the studies that ha ve been performed and ongoing activities.