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Life Cycle Environmental Impact Assessment of Circular Agriculture: A Case Study in Fuqing, China

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  • Weiguo Fan

    (State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
    College of Resources Science and Technology, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China)

  • Peng Zhang

    (State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
    College of Resources Science and Technology, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China)

  • Zihan Xu

    (State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
    College of Resources Science and Technology, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China)

  • Hejie Wei

    (State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
    College of Resources Science and Technology, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China)

  • Nachuan Lu

    (State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
    College of Resources Science and Technology, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China)

  • Xuechao Wang

    (Sustainable Process Integration Laboratory—SPIL, NETME Centre, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Brno University of Technology—VUT Brno, Technická 2896/2, 616 69 Brno, Czech Republic)

  • Boqi Weng

    (Fujian Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Fuzhou 350003, China)

  • Zhongdian Chen

    (Fujian Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Fuzhou 350003, China)

  • Feilong Wu

    (Fujian Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Fuzhou 350003, China)

  • Xiaobin Dong

    (State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
    College of Resources Science and Technology, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
    Joint Center for Global Change and China Green Development, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China)

Abstract

The process for reasonably evaluating the potential impacts of circular agriculture on the environment has become a key issue in the sustainable development of circular agriculture. Based on this consideration, by using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and focusing on the circular agriculture industry company of Xingyuan, Fuqing, this paper evaluates the potential impacts of the pig farming industry-dragon fruit planting-forage planting-fishery industry-mushroom planting-biogas generating-organic fertilizer production circular agriculture model compared to a main agriculture industrial model, the pig farming industry, from environmental and environmental-economic perspectives. Moreover, this paper determines key elements that restrict the development of circular agriculture through a sensitivity analysis. The results show that if we simply consider the potential environmental impacts, circular agriculture does not produce better results than those of the main agricultural production model. In addition, if we consider reducing the potential environmental impact as well as improving the economic benefits from the perspective of a “reduction ring”, we should consider removing mushroom planting and organic fertilizer from the circular agriculture framework. Moreover, if we want to reduce the potential environmental impact without changing the current recycling model, we should focus on the premix components, especially the three main components of corn, soybean meal, and whey protein concentrate.

Suggested Citation

  • Weiguo Fan & Peng Zhang & Zihan Xu & Hejie Wei & Nachuan Lu & Xuechao Wang & Boqi Weng & Zhongdian Chen & Feilong Wu & Xiaobin Dong, 2018. "Life Cycle Environmental Impact Assessment of Circular Agriculture: A Case Study in Fuqing, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-19, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:6:p:1810-:d:149810
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Levasseur, Annie & Bahn, Olivier & Beloin-Saint-Pierre, Didier & Marinova, Mariya & Vaillancourt, Kathleen, 2017. "Assessing butanol from integrated forest biorefinery: A combined techno-economic and life cycle approach," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 198(C), pages 440-452.
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    Cited by:

    1. Yue, Qiong & Guo, Ping & Wu, Hui & Wang, Youzhi & Zhang, Chenglong, 2022. "Towards sustainable circular agriculture: An integrated optimization framework for crop-livestock-biogas-crop recycling system management under uncertainty," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 196(C).
    2. Efthymios Rodias & Eirini Aivazidou & Charisios Achillas & Dimitrios Aidonis & Dionysis Bochtis, 2020. "Water-Energy-Nutrients Synergies in the Agrifood Sector: A Circular Economy Framework," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(1), pages 1-17, December.
    3. Wang, Xue-Chao & Jiang, Peng & Yang, Lan & Fan, Yee Van & Klemeš, Jiří Jaromír & Wang, Yutao, 2021. "Extended water-energy nexus contribution to environmentally-related sustainable development goals," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 150(C).
    4. Min Yang & Quan Long & Wenli Li & Zhichao Wang & Xinhua He & Jie Wang & Xiaozhong Wang & Huaye Xiong & Chaoyi Guo & Guancheng Zhang & Bin Luo & Jun Qiu & Xinping Chen & Fusuo Zhang & Xiaojun Shi & Yue, 2020. "Mapping the Environmental Cost of a Typical Citrus-Producing County in China: Hotspot and Optimization," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-18, February.
    5. Weiguo Fan & Nan Chen & Ximeng Li & Hejie Wei & Xuechao Wang, 2020. "Empirical Research on the Process of Land Resource-Asset-Capitalization—A Case Study of Yanba, Jiangjin District, Chongqing," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-23, February.
    6. Erik Roos Lindgreen & Roberta Salomone & Tatiana Reyes, 2020. "A Critical Review of Academic Approaches, Methods and Tools to Assess Circular Economy at the Micro Level," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-27, June.
    7. Yuan Shen & Linlin Shi & Yueyue Tao & Haihou Wang & Changying Lu & Siyuan Li & Mingxing Shen, 2022. "Sustainability Evaluation and Optimization on the Modern Agro-Pastoral Circular System Integrating Emergy Analysis and Life Cycle Assessment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-18, April.
    8. Ying Zhang & Xiaobin Dong & Xue-Chao Wang & Mengxue Liu & Peng Zhang & Ranran Liu & Jiuming Huang & Shuheng Dong, 2022. "Study on the Relationship between Low-Carbon Circular Farming and Animal Husbandry Models and Human Well-Being: A Case Study of Yongchang County, Gansu Province," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-19, July.
    9. Biao Li & Yunting Feng & Xiqiang Xia & Mengjie Feng, 2021. "Evaluation of China’s Circular Agriculture Performance and Analysis of the Driving Factors," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-16, February.

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