My second year attending the Sustainable Agriculture Summit reaffirmed why this event continues to matter. Unlike many sustainability gatherings dominated by large brands, this summit brings together the full value chain—from farmers and feed suppliers to processors, food companies, and retailers. That diversity is exactly why the conversations feel grounded in reality rather than marketing headlines. Across sessions and hallway chats, one theme kept resurfacing: the US food system urgently needs a harmonized, transparent environmental footprint methodology.
Navigating Global Regulatory Pressures: SB 253 and CSRD
Climate change and the drive for a more resilient food system are reshaping how companies measure and manage sustainability. Policies such as the European Union’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) (European Commission, n.d.-a), California’s SB 253 (California Air Resources Board, 2023), and voluntary commitments aligned with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) (Science Based Targets initiative, n.d.). are increasing expectations for supply chain greenhouse gas (GHG) reporting. This creates a strong pull for reliable data from upstream suppliers and a growing need for consistent methods to evaluate emissions, land use, and other environmental impacts.
Yet the U.S. lacks a standardized, high-resolution footprint database tailored to its agricultural systems. Existing datasets are useful for early screening but fall short for detailed value-chain analysis, decarbonization strategy development, or routine updates. Misaligned system boundaries, uneven data quality, and varied methodological choices make comparisons difficult and slow progress.
The European Blueprint: Learning from the PEF Framework
Europe provides a compelling contrast. Over the past decade, the European Commission has developed the Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) framework (European Commission, n.d.-b), which sets common rules for impact assessment across product categories and is supported by an internally consistent environmental footprint database. Complementary commercial datasets—including Agri-footprint (Mérieux NutriSciences | Blonk, n.d.) and the World Food LCA Database —operate within the same methodological foundation.
Building a Unified U.S. Food Industry Environmental Footprint Datahub
The U.S. food sector increasingly recognizes the need to close this gap. At the Summit in Anaheim, we convened stakeholders from across the value chain—supported by Blonk research fellows Dr. Marty Matlock and Dr. Greg Thoma—to explore the development of a U.S. Food Industry Environmental Footprint Datahub. We discussed key technical features, governance needs, and the business case for a unified approach. Lara Moody of IFEEDER shared lessons from the Global Feed LCA Institute (GFLI) (Global Feed LCA Institute, n.d.), demonstrating how an industry-led effort can successfully set consistent rules and build a widely adopted dataset.
Looking Ahead: Industry-Led Progress and Resilience
What encouraged me most was the tone of the discussion. Stakeholders were candid about the challenges but optimistic about what alignment could unlock. There was broad consensus that a unified, scientifically grounded methodology and data hub is not just helpful—it’s essential. In the absence of federal leadership, this responsibility will fall to industry organizations, commodity groups, and the broader value chain.
Future-Proofing the Food System Through Data Alignment
The path forward will require collaboration, investment, and technical rigor, but the momentum for standardized Life Cycle Assessment data is real. At Mérieux NutriSciences, we are leading the way in environmental footprint management by providing the agri-food sector with scientifically grounded, modular LCA services. Our expert team supports your sustainability journey—including advanced LCA modeling, sustainability target setting, and specialized data products like Agri-footprint—designed to integrate with your existing systems. Whether you are navigating the complexities of SB 253 or striving for SBTi alignment, we provide the actionable insights and transparent data necessary to measure what matters and accelerate your progress toward a more resilient, climate-smart future.
Ready to gain clarity on your environmental impact? Download our LCA Flyer to discover how our team can support your sustainability journey.
References
California Air Resources Board. (2023). SB-253 Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act. California Legislative Information. https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
European Commission. (n.d.-a). Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). https://finance.ec.europa.eu/capital-markets-union-and-financial-markets/company-reporting-and-auditing/company-reporting/corporate-sustainability-reporting_en#legislation
European Commission. (n.d.-b). Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) methodology. https://eplca.jrc.ec.europa.eu/EnvironmentalFootprint.html
Global Feed LCA Institute. (n.d.). GFLI database and methodology. https://globalfeedlca.org
Mérieux NutriSciences | Blonk. (n.d.). Agri-footprint database. https://www.agri-footprint.com
Science Based Targets initiative. (n.d.). SBTi: Driving ambitious corporate climate action. https://sciencebasedtargets.org
