Social and Environmental Life Cycle Assessment in the Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) Production Chain in Ecuador

This doctoral project focuses on conducting a Social and Environmental Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of the Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) production chain in Ecuador, addressing the current lack of data regarding these impacts. The primary goal is to quantify the environmental and social effects derived from the cultivation phase to generate pioneering data that can improve the quality of life for involved communities and optimize the production system. The methodology employed is based on the Life Cycle Assessment method, adhering to the ISO 14044 standard for the environmental component and the United Nations environmental program guidelines for inventory compilation. Furthermore, bromatological quantification (proteins, starch, vitamins, and minerals) is included using standardized methods (AOAC, INEN) to contrast regional results. The project aims to model future scenarios that support decision-making regarding environmental, economic, and social sustainability, providing fundamental knowledge for the sector.<br/><br/><b>Goal</b>: <br/>To estimate the social and environmental impacts of the quinoa cultivation phase in Ecuador, based on the life cycle assessment (LCA) of the necessary inputs and outputs for this process.<br/><br/><b>Research lines</b>: <br/>Technologies applied to natural resources