title: Biofuels carbon footprints: Whole-systems optimisation for GHG emissions reduction.
abstract: A modelling approach for strategic design of ethanol production systems combining lifecycle analysis (LCA) and supply chain optimisation (SCO) can significantly contribute to assess their economic and environmental sustainability and to guide decision makers towards a more conscious implementation of ad hoc farming and processing practices. Most models applications so far have been descriptive in nature; the model proposed in this work is "normative" in that it aims to guide actions towards optimal outcomes (e.g. optimising the nitrogen balance through the whole supply chain). The modelling framework was conceived to steer strategic policies through a geographically specific design process considering economic and environmental criteria. Results shows how a crop management strategy devised from a whole systems perspective can significantly contribute to mitigate global warming even in first generation technologies.
authors.affiliation: CAPE-Lab, Dipartimento di Principi e Impianti di Ingegneria Chimica, Università di Padova, via Marzolo 9, I-35131 Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zamboni
authors.forename: Richard J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: Jeremy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Woods
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bezzo
authors.forename: Nilay
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Shah
mesh_terms: D056804:Biofuels; D002244:Carbon / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004787:Environmental Pollution / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017752:Greenhouse Effect
chemical_list: D056804:Biofuels; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D002244:Carbon