Greenhouse Gas Data Deep Dive Reaches New Level of 'Reasonable and True'
Published:20 Jun.2021 Source:University of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences
For the most accurate accounting of a product's environmental impact, scientists look at the product's entire life cycle, from cradle to grave. It's a grand calculation known as a life cycle assessment (LCA), and greenhouse gas emissions are a key component.
For corn ethanol, most greenhouse gas emissions can be mapped to the fuel's production, transportation, and combustion, but a large portion of the greenhouse gas calculation can be traced right back to the farm. Because of privacy concerns, however, scientists can't access individual farm management decisions such as fertilizer type and rate.