Life Cycle-Based Sustainability Indicators for Assessment of the U.S. Food System

The United States food system, from field to table, is at a crossroads for change. Improving the sustainability of this complex system requires a thorough understanding of the relationships between food consumption behaviors, processing and distribution activities, and agricultural production practices. The product life cycle system is a useful framework for studying the links between societal needs, the natural and economic processes involved in meeting these needs, and the associated environmental consequences.