Murilo Pagotta is using LCA in conjunction with other tools to analyse the sustainability of the Australian food industry as part of his PhD work at the University of Queensland.
Murilo graduated as an Agricultural Engineer from the University of Sao Paulo in 1997. After more than a decade working with multinationals and large farm groups in his native Brazil, Murilo moved to Australia to commence his Masters degree at University of Queensland (UQ) in 2012. He has remained at UQ since, acting as a research assistant on completion of his Masters, then commencing his PhD under Dr. Anthony Halog.
When and why did you first become involved with LCA?
I became involved with LCA during my Masters degree. During that period I used LCA in combination with other tools to analyse the eco-efficiency of some sub-sectors of the Australian food industry. A LCA method was used in the research to evaluate the inputs and outputs of the analyzed sub-sectors as well as to identify inefficiencies during the production processes of products.
How are you using LCA today?
Today I am using LCA in my PhD project. An Attributional LCA will be included in the framework that has been proposed by my research project. The project intends to develop a Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment framework to analyze the sustainability of the Australian food system sub-sectors. If the proposed framework proves to be efficient, it can be used to analyse the sustainability of other industrial systems as well.
What do you predict will be the future of LCA in Australia?
I think in Australia, as around the world, the use of LCA will increase rapidly. Governments and the private sector are realizing the real benefits of the LCA to better inform and show the environmental burdens created during the production of products.
Additionally, the Australian consumers are becoming more and more aware about the importance of knowing the environmental impacts created by production processes and the undesirable impacts they generate in the natural environment.
Based on these arguments, LCA will play an important role in attempting to precisely measure the impacts created in every production process (stage) of supply chains. It also can be used to identify inefficiencies along the supply chain and propose ways to eliminate them when possible.
Why did you decide to join ALCAS?
I joined ALCAS because it plays an important role to improve and spread the use of LCA in Australia. Additionally, the association connects LCA users from Australia and around the globe to share ideas, new developments and how LCA can be used in an efficient and correct manner.
What role do you think ALCAS should be playing?
I think ALCAS is already playing its role that is to connect LCA users and inform government and community about the benefits of the use of LCA.
As a member, what would you like ALCAS to do for you?
I am very satisfied with the benefits and services offered by ALCAS. I think the services are very useful to members. Also, the conferences and other events promoted by ALCAS are a good place to meet new people, discuss about the use and prospects of LCA and start collaborations.