A comprehensive life cycle analysis (LCA) of U.S. wheat production has revealed substantial improvements in environmental sustainability over the past four decades, according to a joint announcement by U.S. Wheat Associates, the National Association of Wheat Growers and the National Wheat Foundation.
The study, conducted by researchers from Texas A&M University AgriLife Research and Colorado State University's AgNext Institute, analyzed data from 110 archetype farms across major wheat-growing regions between 1978 and 2018.
Key findings include:
- Greenhouse gas emissions decreased by 33%
- Energy use reduced by 57%
- Water use dropped by 46%
- Land use declined by 45%
- Soil erosion decreased by 60%
These improvements are attributed to various factors, including more precise fertilizer application, improved fuel efficiency, reduced tillage, and higher yields per water unit.
"Now, the results of this LCA set a more accurate baseline of information that we can share with customers here at home and overseas," said Dalton Henry, USW Vice President of Policy.
The study's methodology involved creating 110 "archetype farms" across representative wheat-producing counties and analyzing data using the Agricultural Policy Environmental Extender model and "openLCA" software.
Derek Sawyer, a Kansas farmer who recently promoted U.S. wheat exports in South America, emphasized the importance of these findings for international customers. "We produce a food ingredient, so the results of this study will be a great way to build confidence that our wheat is produced sustainably with less impact on the environment," Sawyer said.
While the results represent all U.S. wheat production, Henry cautioned against direct comparisons with other countries or crops. The sponsors are sharing these findings to promote transparency and encourage continued measurement of sustainability trends in U.S. wheat production.
