Comparative financial and environmental life cycle assessment of three South African pork production chains

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The world demand for animal proteins and profit-driven production has led to producing animalproteins intensively. Intensive pork production systems have traditionally had a poor image withthe public, because these production systems are associated with environmental pollution.Currently, pigs are produced on highly specialised farms, and are fed concentrated (oftenimported) pig feed. The resulting higher production and higher animal densities contribute to anincreased pollution of water, soil and air. The aim of this study is to determine the energybalance and emissions of three case studies, and to compare these results with their financialperformance. The impacts will be recorded in the following impact categories: global warmingpotential (GWP), acidification potential (AP), eutrophication potential (EP) and Energy Use(EU). The case studies are three typical South African pig production facilities selected by theSouth African pork producer's organisation (SAPPO). The production inputs, from the feedacquisition to the delivery of one kg of pig at the farm gate, were included. The three farms arelocated in different areas in South Africa, namely KwaZulu-Natal province (Case study 1),North-West province (Case study 2) and Western Cape province (Case study 3). The functionalunit (FU) for this study is defined as 1 kg of South African pig (live-weight) at the farm gate.This study found that the GWP/FU of Case study 2 is 4 and 2 % higher than Case studies 1 and 3respectively. The EP/FU of Case study 1 is 9 and 6 % higher than Case studies 2 and 3respectively. The AP/FU of Case study 1 is 4 and 5 % higher than Case studies 2 and 3respectively. The EU/FU of Case study 3 is 45 % and 16 % higher than Case studies 1 and 2respectively. The major activities that contributed to the environmental impact categories werethe slurry management activity, followed by electricity usage. The financial and environmentalperformance comparison did show deviations. Therefore, it is recommended that environmentaland financial performance measurements be made, in order to create a true reflection of theimpacts. The potential for improvement in financial and environmental performance proved to besignificant in the productivity of the sow herd, as well as in the management of the piglets. Thelocation of the production facility does not claim to hold have significant environmental orfinancial implications. Management of the emissions produced by piggeries can offset the impactof the piggery's location.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University