Energy use and greenhouse gas emissions and related improvement options of the broiler chicken meat supply chain

Energy consumption and the climate-change impact (i.e., carbon footprint) of a typical Finnish broiler chicken fillet product were studied using a supply-chain integrated life cycle assessment method. All essential production stages from parent stock and production of farming inputs to product distribution and sales in retail stores were included in the assessment. The results of the study clearly demonstrated the significant contribution of primary production to the climate-change impact. Most greenhouse gases emitted along the chain originated from cultivation of feed ingredients and housing of broiler chickens. These production stages, as well as the retail-store phase, also contributed greatly to overall energy consumption. Measures that could be taken to decrease climate-change impacts of the supply chain are evaluated in some alternative scenarios. Promising options to decrease climate change impacts of the supply chain were found, but in order to decrease impacts remarkably many parallel improvement measures have to be initiated in different parts of supply chain.