How does Life Cycle Assessment capture the environmental impacts of agroforestry? A systematic review.

In this paper, a systematic review approach was used to evaluate how environmental Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) has been applied in agroforestry in the context of food systems. This review was used as the basis for discussing methodological issues in the LCA framework for agroforestry systems (AFS) and relevant environmental outcomes in the agroforestry literature. A total of 32 LCAs in 17 countries identified in four databases and spanning a decade form the basis for this paper. Studies were selected based on pre-defined inclusion criteria and followed established guidelines and a review protocol. Qualitative data were extracted and categorized into multiple themes. Results were quantitatively synthesized for the four phases of the LCA for each individual agroforestry practice (i.e., based on its structural composition). Results showed that around half of the selected studies are located in tropical climates, the rest being in temperate climates, predominantly in Southern Europe. Studies primarily used a mass functional unit and rarely included post-farm gate system boundaries. Almost half of the studies account for multifunctionality, and most allocation methods were based on physical properties. Climate change had the greatest coverage from all impact categories with some variations within milk, meat, and crop production systems. Methodological issues were related to limited system boundaries, few impact categories, and differing functional units and multifunctionality approaches. The identified effects of AFS on biodiversity, climate change mitigation, water, soil, pollination, and pest and disease were only partially documented or not analyzed in the LCA studies or the LCA framework. Gaps in knowledge and limitations of the present review were discussed. Further methodological improvements remain necessary to determine the net environmental effects of food products resulting from individual AFS, especially within the area of multifunctionality, carbon sequestration, and biodiversity.

Reducing milking frequency from 3 to 2 times daily in early lactation: effects on milk production, health and body condition.

The objective of this experiment was to investigate the effect of reducing early lactation milking frequency on milk yield and persistency through lactation and early lactation fat mobilization, measured by body condition score (BCS) and BHB in milk. We hypothesized that milking cows twice per day in early lactation before milking them 3 times per day for the remaining lactation would cause less fat mobilization in early lactation, a lower peak milk yield but improved persistency throughout lactation compared with milking cows 3 times per day for the entire lactation. The experiment took place on 2 commercial dairy farms in Denmark. All cows calving in a period of nine months (n = 239) in their current first and later parities were randomly allocated at dry-off to 1 of 3 treatments based on expected calving date. The treatments were (1) cows milked 2 times per day for 1 week after calving, (2) cows milked 2 times per day for 4 weeks after calving and (3) cows milked 2 times per day for 7 weeks after calving. All cows were then milked 3 times per day for the remaining lactation. Milk yield peaked 3.3 and 3.6 d later and milk yield persistency improved with 18 and 19 g per day when cows were milked 2 times per day for 4 and 7 weeks, respectively, compared with milking 2 times per day for 1 week after calving. We found a significant highest milk BHB in treatment 2, but the underlying effect of milking cows 2 times per day for 4 weeks compared with 1 or 7 weeks was unclear. In conclusion, we did not confirm our hypothesis that milking cows 2 times per day compared to 3 times in early lactation would reduce fat mobilization and reduce peak yield. We did, however, find an improved milk yield persistency, which partially offset a numerical reduction in peak yield, and hence there was no significant effect of reducing early lactation milking frequency on total lactation (305 DIM) milk yield.

Carbon Footprint Reduction by Transitioning to a Diet Consistent with the Danish Climate-Friendly Dietary Guidelines: A Comparison of Different Carbon Footprint Databases.

Dietary transitions are important for combating many of the environmental challenges humanity is facing today and reducing the global burden of disease. Different dietary patterns are associated with substantially different carbon footprints (CFs). This study aims to estimate the potential CF reduction on a transition from the current Danish diet to a plant-rich diet consistent with the Danish food-based dietary guidelines (FBDG) and to compare results obtained from the use of two different CF databases. Dietary intake data for adults aged 18-64 years from the national dietary survey 2011-2013 were used to calculate the CF of the current diet, and this was compared with the estimated CF of the plant-rich diet modelled for the FBDG. Calculations were carried out using an attributional life cycle assessment (LCA) database (AU-DTU data) and compared to calculations using a top-down hybrid consequential LCA database (BCD data). The transition from the current diet to the plant-rich diet showed a substantial estimated CF reduction of 31% with AU-DTU data, and a greater reduction with BCD data (43%). Ruminant meat reduction was the largest contributor to this CF reduction, especially with the use of BCD data, and other animal-based foods also contribute considerably to the CF reduction, especially with AU-DTU data. These results indicate that the choice of LCA methodology and CF database is important in estimation of dietary CF and for the development of guidelines to promote dietary change.

Towards a more comprehensive life cycle assessment framework for assessing toxicity-related impacts for livestock products: The case of Danish pork.

In life cycle assessments of livestock systems, toxicity-related impacts are not commonly considered or only specific aspects (such as pesticides, manufacturing of inputs) are assessed. In this context, the aim of this study was to define a framework for assessing toxicity-related impacts and to characterize human toxicity and freshwater ecotoxicity for a livestock product based on applying the state-of-the-art models PestLCI Consensus and USEtox. Furthermore, methodological gaps were discussed and ways forward were suggested. The case study focused on Danish pork production and the toxicity results were reported per kg 'meat' (the parts of pig used for human consumption) leaving the slaughterhouse. The assessment framework included the use of pesticides and heavy metals in feed production, the use of veterinary pharmaceuticals in pig production, and the manufacturing of inputs. The use of cleaning agents could not be assessed with the currently available methods. New characterization factors were calculated for 35 chemicals not available in USEtox. For Danish pork production, feed production was the main contributor to the analyzed toxicity impacts. The use of pesticides was the main driver for organic substances while heavy metal emissions related to the application of pig manure to fields were the hotspot for metal-based substances. The use of veterinary pharmaceuticals contributed only to freshwater ecotoxicity by 3%. PestLCI Consensus estimates were compared with different approaches. The impact of metabolites of pesticides and veterinary pharmaceuticals was assessed and discussed. Methodological gaps and research needs were identified regarding the assessment of pesticides, veterinary pharmaceuticals, metal-based substances, inorganic substances, and combined exposure to multiple chemicals. Better data related to the use and chemical properties of substances are needed to reduce uncertainty in toxicity modeling.

The Climate and Nutritional Impact of Beef in Different Dietary Patterns in Denmark.

There is public focus on the environmental impact, and in particular, the emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG), related to our food consumption. The aim of the present study was to estimate the carbon footprint (CF), land use and nutritional impact of the different beef products ready to eat in different real-life dietary patterns. Beef products accounted for 513, 560, 409 and 1023 g CO2eq per day, respectively, in the four dietary patterns (Traditional, Fast-food, Green, and High-beef). The total CFs of these diets were 4.4, 4.2, 4.3 and 5.0 kg CO2eq per day (10 MJ), respectively. The Green diet had almost the same CF as the Traditional and the Fast-food diets despite having the lowest intake of beef as well as the lowest intake of red meat in total. A theoretical substitution of beef with other animal products or legumes in each of these three diets reduced the diets' CF by 4-12% and land use by 5-14%. As regards nutrients, both positive and negative impacts of these substitutions were found but only a few of particular nutritional importance, indicating that replacing beef with a combination of other foods without a significant effect on the nutrient profile of the diet is a potential mitigation option.

Intensive, personalized multimodal rehabilitation in patients with primary or revision total knee arthroplasty: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Recent evidence has shown that many patients suffer from persistent pain and impaired function after primary or revision total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Post-surgical complications may in addition decrease physical performances and lead to more pain and impacted quality of life.The purpose of the study was to assess the changes in pain intensity and functional capacity among patients with post-surgical complications after TKA three weeks of intensive, personalized multimodal rehabilitation. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study consisting of 217 patient of which 166 had primary TKA and 51 had revision TKA was conducted. On average, primary TKA patients and revision TKA patients were 3.7 and 2.7 months post-surgical, respectively. All patients have had post-surgical complications and were referred to an inpatient rehabilitation department, where they received a personalized three-week intensive, multimodal rehabilitation protocol. The rehabilitation consisted of sessions targeting neuromuscular function, postural control, and flexibility, sessions focusing on improving muscle strength and cardiovascular function and sessions with focus on gait retraining. The frequency of training was 2-4 sessions/day. The primary outcome was the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) and secondary outcomes were pain intensities measured using numerical rating scale, 6 min. walking test, stair-climbing test and range of motion for knee flexion and extension. Outcome measures were assessed at baseline upon referral and at follow-up before discharge. RESULTS: All outcomes, except pain at rest in the revision group, improved significantly. KOOS subscales, improved 8.5 to 14.2 in the primary TKA group (p < 0.001) and 6.9 to 10.8 in the revision group (p < 0.001). For the TKA group, effect sizes were medium-to-large for all KOOS subscales, 6 min. walking test, stair-climbing test, and pain intensity during activity. For the revision group, effect sizes were medium-to-large for KOOS subscales symptoms and activity of daily living, 6 min. walking test, stair-climbing test, and knee flexion. CONCLUSION: Patients with post-surgical complications after primary or revision TKA experienced clinical relevant improvement in self-reported outcomes, pain relief, and improved physical performances after three weeks of personalized multimodal rehabilitation. The results suggest that an intensive, multimodal approach might be useful to obtain clinically relevant improvements.

Food waste quantification in primary production - The Nordic countries as a case study.

Our understanding of food waste in the food supply chain has increased, but very few studies have been published on food waste in primary production. The overall aims of this study were to quantify the total amount of food waste in primary production in Finland, Sweden, Norway and Denmark, and to create a framework for how to define and quantify food waste in primary production. The quantification of food waste was based on case studies conducted in the present study and estimates published in scientific literature. The chosen scope of the study was to quantify the amount of edible food (excluding inedible parts like peels and bones) produced for human consumption that did not end up as food. As a result, the quantification was different from the existing guidelines. One of the main differences is that food that ends up as animal feed is included in the present study, whereas this is not the case for the recently launched food waste definition of the FUSIONS project. To distinguish the 'food waste' definition of the present study from the existing definitions and to avoid confusion with established usage of the term, a new term 'side flow' (SF) was introduced as a synonym for food waste in primary production. A rough estimate of the total amount of food waste in primary production in Finland, Sweden, Norway and Denmark was made using SF and 'FUSIONS Food Waste' (FFW) definitions. The SFs in primary production in the four Nordic countries were an estimated 800,000 tonnes per year with an additional 100,000 tonnes per year from the rearing phase of animals. The 900,000 tonnes per year of SF corresponds to 3.7% of the total production of 24,000,000 tonnes per year of edible primary products. When using the FFW definition proposed by the FUSIONS project, the FFW amount was estimated at 330,000 tonnes per year, or 1% of the total production.