Following the standard protocol of all research commissioned by the dairy industry, the Innovation Center called on experts to conduct a third party, critical review of the fluid milk carbon footprint study.

Critical Review Panel

Dr. Olivier Jolliet – Critical Review Chair

Associate Professor, Environmental Health Services – University of Michigan

With a specific expertise in LCA science, Dr. Jolliet co-initiated the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP)/SETAC Life Cycle Initiative and is currently the scientific manager of its Life Cycle Impact Assessment Program. He is the editor and reviewer for several scientific journals.

Dr. Robert P. Anex – Critical Review Co-Reviewer 1

Associate Professor, Ag and Biosystems Engineering – Iowa State University

Dr. Anex has a special expertise in life cycle assessment of biorenewable resources and bio-based industries.

Dr. Pascal Lesage – Critical Review Co-Reviewer 2

Associate Professor – Canadian Interuniversity Research Centre for the Life Cycle of Products, Processes and Services (CIRAIG)

Dr. Lesage brings an expertise in data mining to the critical review process of LCA.

According to the life cycle assessment standard ISO 14040, the critical review process should ensure that:

• Methods used to carry out the LCA are consistent with the international standards
•  Methods used to carry out the LCA are scientifically and technically valid
• Data used are appropriate and reasonable in relation to the goal of the study
• Interpretations reflect the limitations identified and the goal of the study
• Study report is transparent and consistent

The researchers focused first on the goal definition and inventory analysis, including methodology used for data collection, making selective checks and focusing on possible inconsistencies. The process took place in an open and constructive atmosphere, and the final report of the review process was the result of complete consensus of the reviewers. The study’s commissioner was informed about the progress of the review and participated in each phase of the review process.

Contributing to universal LCA science

The critical reviewers of the fluid milk carbon footprint study confirmed the research met the ISO standards defined above, and offered remarks related to the unprecedented nature of the research.

The researchers found that the fluid milk carbon footprint study provides a significant contribution to the field with the following unique aspects, as defined by the review panel:

• Practitioner performed very important data collection in the frame of a survey involving 540 farms, providing unique insight on variations of the carbon footprint between farms in the U.S., accounting for feed efficiency and manure management practices.
• The developed allocation procedure between beef and milk, based on estimates of the feed energy deposited in beef and milk products, is of high interest as a causal-based relationship.
•  The analysis of transportation, processing, packaging and distribution combined with the detailed farm analysis enables the coverage of the entire milk supply chain, from fertilizer and feed production through distribution and consumption.
•  The quality of the study reflects and up-to-date carbon footprint of fluid milk supply based on state-of-the-art data availability. Sensitivity analyses were used on relevant issues and a Monte-Carlo uncertainty was performed.

Because this study was limited to measuring the carbon footprint of fluid milk, the panel recommended that the dairy industry conduct a comprehensive study on the total life cycle assessment of fluid milk that considers the whole system. This comprehensive research is currently under way.

For the complete report of the critical review panel, click here.