Science-Based Metrics for Sustainable Outcomes in Agriculture - Marty D. Matlock, PhD, PE, BCEE, Executive Director, Office for Sustainability, Area Director, Center for Agricultural and Rural Sustainability, Professor, Biological and Agricultural Engineering, University of Arkansas, from the 2014 NIAA Annual Conference titled 'The Precautionary Principle: How Agriculture Will Thrive', March 31 - April 2, 2014, Omaha, NE, USA. More presentations at http://www.trufflemedia.com/agmedia/conference/2014_niaa_how_animal_agriculture_will_thrive

1. Marty Matlock, PhD, PE, BCEE
Executive Director, Office for Sustainability
Professor , Biological and Agricultural Engineering Department
University of Arkansas
Science Based Metrics
for Sustainable
Outcomes In Agriculture
2014 NIAA Annual Conference & NIAA/USAHA
Joint Forum on Trichomoniasis Standards

2. Everything is Connected
2

3. Everything is changing
3

4. A.D.
2000
A.D.
1000
A.D.
1
1000
B.C.
2000
B.C.
3000
B.C.
4000
B.C.
5000
B.C.
6000
B.C.
7000
B.C.
1+ million
years
8
7
6
5
2
1
4
3
Old
Stone
Age
9
10
11
12
A.D.
3000
A.D.
4000
A.D.
5000
1900
1950
1975
2000
2100
Future
Billions
Source: Population Reference Bureau; and United Nations, World Population Projections to 2100 (1998).
World Population Growth In Context
Time of our
Parents and
Grandparents
2010
Era of Monarchs
Era of
Democracy
?
Time of our
Children and
Grandchildren
4

5. Sustainability 2050: The Challenge
5

6. Sustainability 2050: The Challenge
6

7. Sustainability 2050: The Challenge
7

8. Sustainability 2050: The Challenge
What we do in
the next 10 years
will shape Earth
and Humanity for
the next 100
years
When technology and culture collide
technology prevails, culture changes
8

9. Billions
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
1950 1970 1990 2010 2030 2050
Less Developed Regions
More Developed Regions
Source: United Nations, World Population Prospects: The 2004 Revision (medium scenario), 2005.
We are all in this together
9

10. Elements of Sustainable Agriculture
10
PEOPLE PROFIT
PLANET
SUSTAINABLE
BEARABLE
EQUITABLE
VIABLE

11. Human Activities Dominate Earth
Croplands and pastures are the largest terrestrial biome, occupying over
40% of Earth’s land surface
11

12. Persistent vs Important Issues
Persistent Issues Important Issues
Locally grown Water use efficiency
GMO crops Soil erosion
Organic crops Soil organic carbon
Natural Land use change –
biodiversity loss
From Jason Clay, WWF

13. Meeting Food Needs by 2050
Jason Clay
The role of
research
13

14. Key Sustainability Challenges for
Agriculture
1. In order to meet projected demands for food, feed,
fiber and fuel from the land we must increase
production (output per year) by 50 to 100 percent in
the next four decades.
2. If global production is not increased, US and European
production must compensate by increasing even more.
3. If we want to preserve biodiversity and other land-
based ecosystem services we must freeze the
footprint of agriculture.
4. Thus yield (output per area) must more than double in
the next 40 years in the US and Europe.
5. Energy scarcity will drive innovation while limiting
expansion of productivity.
6. Water scarcity will limit productivity globally.

15. The Food Supply Chain
Production Processing
Distribution
RetailDirect Mktg Wholesale
Consumption
Safety
Security
Stability
15

16. Sustainability Initiatives
16

17. The Issue is TRUST
1. Consumer attitudes
2. Social License – freedom to
operate
3. Criteria for legitimacy
4. Market competitiveness
5.Reputational Risks!

18. (Re)Building Trust in the Food System

21. Sustainability is Continuous
Improvement
21
1. Define
A. Define Sustainability for the Enterprise
B. Define Key Performance Indicators
C. Select Metrics for KPIs
2. Measure
A. Benchmark KPI Metrics
B. Set Goals for Each KPI
C. Develop Strategy to Meet Goals
3. Implement
A. Implement the Strategy
B. Measure, Assess and Report Results
C. Adapt Strategy to Improve Outcomes

22. How We Define Sustainable
Agriculture

23. Breadth of Goal
Vision
Management
Aspirational
Strategic
Operational
Tactical
PlanningHorizon
Long
Short
Framework of Goals

24. Criteria for Key Performance Indicators of
Sustainable Agriculture
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are
things we measure to inform decisions.
KPIs should be:
1.Outcomes Based.
2.Science Driven.
3.Technology Neutral.
4.Transparent.

25. Environmental Key Performance
Indicators for Agriculture
25
• Greenhouse Gas Emissions
• Energy Use
• Water Use
• Land Use
• Water Quality
• Nutrient Use Efficiency
• Habitat/Biodiversity

26. 26
KPIs: Sentinels for Threats

27. 27
KPIs: Sentinels for Threats

28. Human Water Security
Threat Index
28
Global threats to human water security and river biodiversity. C.J. Vorosmarty, P.B. McIntyre, M.O. Gessner, D. Dudgeon, A. Prusevich, P. Green, S. Glidden,
S.E. Bunn, C.A. Sullivan, C. Reidy Liermann, and P.M. Davies. Nature 467, 555-561 (30 September 2010) doi:10.1038/nature09440
http://riverthreat.net/

29. Persistent vs Important Issues
Persistent Issues Important Issues
Locally grown Water use efficiency
GMO crops Soil erosion
Organic crops Soil organic carbon
Natural Land use change –
biodiversity loss
From Jason Clay, WWF

30. 30
Livestock GHG emissions
are estimated at 7.1
gigatonnes CO2e per year.
This is 14.5 percent of
human-induced GHG
emissions.

31. 31
Potential GHG emissions
reductions from nutrition,
manure, and husbandry
practices.
Increasing forage digestibility and
digestible forage intake will generally
reduce GHG emissions
from rumen fermentation and stored
manure.
Dietary lipids are effective in reducing
enteric CH4 emissions.
Supplementation with small amounts
of concentrate feed to increase
animal productivity

32. Global emissions by sector
32

33. Field to Market
The Alliance for Sustainable
Agriculture

34. Field to Market Membership
34

35. Measuring US Soybean
Sustainability Metrics
35

36. US Ag Sustainability Initiatives

37. ISO Standard for LCA
37
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD
ISO 14044
First edition
2006-07-01
Environmental management — Life cycle assessment:
Requirements and guidelines
Reference number:
ISO 14044:2006(E)
ISO 14044 was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 207,
Environmental management, Subcommittee SC 5, Life cycle
assessment.
This first edition of ISO 14044, together with ISO 14040:2006, cancels
and replaces ISO 14040:1997, ISO 14041:1998, ISO 14042:2000 and
ISO 14043:2000, which have been technically revised.

38. Phases of a Life Cycle Assessment
Interpretation
Goal and Scope
Definition
Direct Applications:
•Process Improvement
•Product Assessment
•Policy Analysis
•Strategic Planning
•Risk Management
Inventory
Analysis
Impact
Assessment
Life Cycle Assessment Framework

39. ISO Standard for LCA
39
The International Organization for Standards (ISO) is a network of the
national standards institutes of 162 countries, one member per country, with
a Central Secretariat in Geneva, Switzerland, that coordinates the system.
ISO is a non-governmental organization that forms a bridge between the
public and private sectors. On the one hand, many of its member institutes
are part of the governmental structure of their countries, or are mandated by
their government. On the other hand, other members have their roots
uniquely in the private sector, having been set up by national partnerships of
industry associations.
http://www.iso.org/

40. Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) to
Understand and Manage
Supply Chain Processes
40

41. LCA allows for impact
assessment from cradle to
grave
Raw
Material
A
Raw
Material
A
Raw
Material
B
Raw
Material
B
Product
1
Product
1
41

42. LCA allows for impact
assessment from cradle to
grave
Raw
Material
A
Raw
Material
A
Raw
Material
B
Raw
Material
B
Product
1
Product
1
Boundaries matter
42

43. Life Cycle Assessment Allocation
43
By Mass?
= +
+
+
By Value?
Kg CO2e per kg

44. Benchmark KPIs for GHG
• National Life Cycle Carbon Footprint Study for the
Production of US Swine
– Carbon Footprint – 2.48 lb CO2e per serving
– Emission Contributions
• Sow Barn: 9.6%, including feed and manure handling
• Nursery to Finish: 52.5%, including feed and manure handling
• Processing and Packaging: 6.9%
• Retail: 7.54%
• Consumer: 23.5%

45. Benchmark KPIs for GHG

46. • Life Cycle Analysis of Alternative Pork
Management Practice
– Anesthesia during castration or tail docking
– Immuno-Castration Methods
– Removal of Ractopamine as a feed additive
– Removal of Antimicrobials to prevent disease and
promote growth
– Pen Gestation Housing
Benchmark KPIs for GHG

47. Benchmark KPIs for GHG

48. Benchmark KPIs for Water

49. • A Life Cycle Analysis of Water Use in U.S. Pork
Production
– 19-144 gal water per pound boneless pork
– 75% from feed irrigation
– 20% for drinking water
Benchmark KPIs for Water

50. Benchmark KPIs for Water

51. Benchmark KPIs for Water

52. Benchmark KPIs for Water

53. Sustainability Framework
53
1. Define
A. Define Sustainability for the Enterprise
B. Define Key Performance Indicators
C. Select Metrics for KPIs
2. Measure
A. Benchmark KPI Metrics
B. Set Goals for Each KPI
C. Develop Strategy to Meet Goals
3. Implement
A. Implement the Strategy
B. Measure, Assess and Report Results
C. Adapt Strategy to Improve Outcomes

54. Breadth of Goal
Vision
Management
Aspirational
Strategic
Operational
Tactical
PlanningHorizon
Long
Short
Framework of Goals