LUC Impact
Deforestation is one of the major issues facing the global agriculture production system, with as much 8% of global CO2 emissions being attributable to land use change. A well-known example is deforestation for the cultivation of crops such as soybean and oil palm. Many publications have focussed (rightfully so) on this issue and have provided solid global or country specific estimations of CO2 emissions due to land use change based on available statistics and/or satellite imagery.
A big challenge for Life Cycle Assessments (LCA) researchers is to translate this impact of land use change to specific crops from specific countries while little primary data is available. Our ‘LUC Impact Tool’ is specifically designed to address this challenge.
Based on recognized methodology
Based on the PAS2050 and specifically the PAS2050-1 frameworks, the basic methodology of which is now widely referenced and applied.
Regularly updated
The first version published in 2014, the tool has been updated almost every year. With every update, the most recent data and methodological updates are included.
Complementary training available
For those who would like to learn more about Land Use Change accounting, and would like to explore different methodologies, we offer our Land Use Change training.
The LUC Impact tool
The Land Use Change Impact tool has been developed following the PAS2050-1 guidelines. It is based on the most recent FAO country level data on cropland, forest and grassland expansion and contraction. Furthermore, new estimations of biomass carbon stock in forests from the Forest Resource Assessment 2020 are included, and soil carbon stock factors are up to date with the in 2019 updated guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories from the IPCC.
LUC Impact is an Excel tool which provides a predefined way of calculating GHG emissions from LUC. The tool gives insight in the land transformation and associated emissions related to the cultivation of a specific country and crop combination. The LUC Impact tool has options to define LUC when the previous land use is known, but also when it is unknown. In case the country of cultivation is also unknown, the tool provides the option to calculate the average GHG emissions connected to LUC for a selected crop. This way, the tool offers three functionalities based on the amount of information available to the user. The tool also enables selecting some specific land management practices that influence the soil organic carbon content, such as tillage level and organic input level, to accurately represent the carbon stock of the specific cultivation system.
Update description
In the update description you can find more information on the functionalities of the tool, the details on the latest update and an overview of key crops and changes in LUC emissions.
Dataset available
We also have a single dataset available for licensing. This dataset includes all possible crop-country combinations from the ‘country known; previous land use unknown’ functionality.
It is available for licensing for a fee of €250 (ex VAT). If you wish to integrate the data into your commercial tool, please request a special license.
complementary training
Training Land Use Change Accounting
The training Land Use Change (LUC) Accounting is a 4-hour, interactive session around the topic of Land Use Change and how we can properly account for it. The training provides you with a lot of context, background information and critical perspectives on the multiple methodological choices and challenges related to LUC accounting.
Our Land Use Change Expert
Lisanne de Weert
Lisanne graduated in Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Design. Within Blonk she works on projects related to sustainable nutrition assessment and food and biobased LCAs. Besides that, she is experienced in the development of carbon footprint tools and automated LCAs. Lisanne is our internal expert on the topic of Land Use Change Accounting, amongst others updating the LUC Impact tool on a yearly basis and providing LUC accounting trainings.
case study
LCA database for plant-based ingredients for Pulse Canada
With the help of the new LUC Impact tool, Blonk Consultants has developed a new LCA database for plant-based ingredients for Pulse Canada, the Industry Association for Canadian pulse growers and exporters. The database combines country-specific datasets of common pulses, such as soybean and peas, with regionalized datasets. To include the CO2 equivalent emissions related to land use change, the recently updated LUC Impact tool has been used. Like this, it was possible to calculate the emissions and removal of greenhouse gases caused by the conversion of land use (e.g., from forest to agricultural land) specifically for soybeans and peas in particular geographical areas. In addition, quite uniquely, with the help of the LUC Impact tool it was possible to account for the influence of different tillage practices on carbon stocks and the resulting CO2 equivalent emissions.
Interested in obtaining the LUC Impact tool?
Get in touch.
Meike van de Wouw
If you'd like more information on the LUC Impact tool and it's uses, or if you are interested in a license, please contact Meike.