Typically estimated using lifecycle assessment (LCA) models:
- GREET model (used by California LCFS, DOE, and USDA)
- GHGenius (common in Canada)
- Cool Farm Tool (used by Unilever, PepsiCo and other multinationals)
- COMET-Planner (developed by USDA NRCS)
These tools combine farm-specific activity data — such as fertilizer rates, fuel use and tillage practices — with standardized emissions factors to estimate greenhouse gas emissions. Modeling assumptions, including regional energy mixes, land-use impacts and co-product treatment, are used to fill in gaps and ensure consistency across systems. The result is a CI score that expresses total emissions per unit of output, such as per bushel or per megajoule, enabling comparison across farms, practices and supply chains.
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