Life Cycle Assessment of the Peanut Value Chain in Central Argentina

This study presents a comprehensive Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of seven peanut-derived products processed in central Argentina, aiming to quantify their environmental impacts from agricultural production to end-of-life. The research is framed within the development of Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) in accordance with ISO 14025, 14067 and 14040 standards, using primary data from three farms and one industrial facility representative of the sector. IPCC Tier 2 methodology was applied, with emission factors specific for Argentina, enabling a precise and context-sensitive environmental evaluation. Results show that the agricultural stage is the main source of greenhouse gas emissions (40–66%), particularly due to soil and crop residue management. International distribution, mainly maritime, also represents a significant burden (16–24%). Compared to equivalent products from Brazil and the USA, Argentine peanut products show environmental advantages in terms of carbon footprint, which was 67% lower for peanut butter than in the USA, and 21%lower for blanched peanuts than those from Brazil. The assessment identified opportunities to improve precision agriculture, renewable energy use, and estimation of soil carbon changes, and to optimize packaging. This work provides novel data for the region, strengthens the international competitiveness of Argentina’s peanut sector, and offers valuable inputs for public policy making and business strategies focused on sustainability.