Life Cycle Assessment within Biological Production Systems
Course content
Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a multi-disciplinary methodology used to assess the sustainability of a product. This could be anything from tomatoes to a complete diet or a biofuel.
LCA is done by quantifying the potential environmental impacts associated with the production of the product. These potential impacts can then be compared with alternative options.
The methodology is increasingly applied as an aid for
political decision making and knowledge about the methodology
is therefore highly relevant to students interested in
environmental science and management.
The course covers general LCA theory:
1. Goal and scope definition
2. Inventory analysis
3. Life impact assessment
4. Interpretation of results
This includes important subjects like definition of functional
unit, system boundary delimitation, allocation, system expansion,
circular production, change-oriented versus accounting LCA,
consequential versus attributional modeling. Impact assessment
methodology and sensitivity analysis.
Special emphasis will be given to various environmental and
resource conservation problems that arise in conjunction with
products of biological production systems (e.g. crop production,
bioenergy, animal production, aquaculture, waste management,
fermentation). The students are also introduced to the concept of
cost benefit analysis (CBA) and illustrative examples of CBA based
on value transfer will be given.
MSc Programme in Agriculture
MSc Programme in Environmental Science
MSc Programme in Global Environment and Development
The objective of the course is to teach the students the theory
behind, and to gain experience with applying life cycle assessment.
The course will teach the students the basic principles for
conducting an life cycle assessments and give them experience with
the methodology to allow them to compare the environmental
performance of different alternative products.
Upon completion of the course, the students should be able
to:
Knowledge:
- Identify major environmental impacts of biological production
systems - Show overview of the theory of life cycle assessment
(LCA)
- Outline the definition of scope, goal, inventory analysis and
impact assessment - Describe how LCA can be used for improving
production systems
- Summarize the transfer of LCA results to economic cost-benefit
analysis (CBA)
- Describe alternative environmental assessment tools and their
applicability
Skills:
- Use LCA software and apply it to practical cases
- Apply LCA on different kinds of products of biological production
systems - Analyse factors that influence the environmental impact
of biological systems directly or indirectly
- Assess and relate critically to the conclusions of LCA reports
Competences:
- Discuss environmental problems associated with biological
production systems
- Present an understanding of potential consequences of the results
of an LCA
- Suggest improvements to biological production systems in terms of
environmental impact with the aid of LCA
- Link LCA-outcomes with the CBA of economists and discuss the
implications of this.
The course is divided in two major parts:
1. Introduction to the theory, principles and application of LCA;
2. Use of the acquired LCA competences in case-studies.
In the first part, the general theory of life cycle assessment will
be presented in the form of lectures and exercises and the students
will be acquainted with life cycle thinking. In addition, the
students will get hand-on experience with LCA software and
acquainted with the possibilities of its use through exercises. A
case study and several small exercises will illustrate the
principles relevant to biological production systems such as land
use, eutrophication, global warming etc.
In the second part the students will conduct a more realistic case.
An expert in the area will act as a client requesting a LCA, while
the student will act as LCA experts carrying out the assessment.
This will be done in study groups, but the students will each write
an individual discussion of the results. This case will serve to
illustrate some of the practical problems with LCA in more detail
and train the use of LCA software. In addition, journals clubs will
be arranged where relevant LCA studies are discussed as
illustrative examples of how to conduct LCA studies and how to
report them.
Course material consists of a textbook introducing the general theory. In addition, illustrateive papers used and journal clubs will be part of the curricullum as well as notes on CBA which will be distributed during the course.
Basic background in natural and environmental science
Feedback through discussions during the group work on cases and written feedback on case 1 report.
- ECTS
- 7,5 ECTS
- Type of assessment
-
Oral examination, 20 min.Written assignment
- Type of assessment details
- The oral exam consists a 20 min oral examination without
preparation time. Oral examination is weighted 60%.
The written assignment - the individual discussion of case 2 - is weighted 40%.
An overall assessment of the individual discussion and oral examination is made and one grade is given. - Exam registration requirements
-
Two group reports (case 1 and case 2) made during the course must be approved.
- Aid
- All aids allowed
- Marking scale
- 7-point grading scale
- Censorship form
- No external censorship
One internal examiner
- Re-exam
-
As the ordinary exam.
Prerequisites for reexamination: the two group reports must be handed in and approved at least two weeks before the reexamination (if the reports were approved before the ordinary exam this prerequisite is met). The individual discussion of case 2 (can be revised after the ordinary exam) must be submitted at least two weeks before the reexamination.
Criteria for exam assessment
The assessment is based on the fulfillment of the learning outcome for the course in relation to the criteria in the 7-scale grading system
Single subject courses (day)
- Category
- Hours
- Lectures
- 39
- Preparation
- 44
- Exercises
- 30
- Project work
- 93
- English
- 206
Kursusinformation
- Language
- English
- Course number
- NPLK14004U
- ECTS
- 7,5 ECTS
- Programme level
- Full Degree Master
- Duration
-
1 block
- Placement
- Block 1
- Schedulegroup
-
B
- Capacity
- 25
The number of places might be reduced if you register in the late-registration period (BSc and MSc) or as a credit or single subject student. - Studyboard
- Study Board of Natural Resources, Environment and Animal Science
Contracting department
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences
- Department of Food and Resource Economics
- Department of Geoscience and Natural Resource Management
Contracting faculty
- Faculty of Science
Course Coordinator
- Sander Bruun (3-83717250807c757e3e7b853e747b)
Teacher
Niclas Scott Bentsen
Marie Lautrup
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