Internship - Assessing Environmental Impacts in the Vegetable Oil and Protein Sector Using the Multi-Criteria LCA Method

Job Description

The objectives of the Oilseed Processing and Valorization Department are:

Contribute to improving the quality of oils and oilseed meal by optimizing current oilseed processing methods and testing new technologies;
optimize applications in traditional markets (human food, animal feed); explore new market opportunities;
and meet consumer demands (food safety, environmental footprint of products).

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a tool for evaluating the environmental impacts of a system, encompassing all activities related to a product or service from the extraction of raw materials through to waste disposal and treatment. Its principle is to provide a multi-criteria assessment: taking into account the consumption of natural resources (raw materials, water, energy), and emissions into water, air, and soil (contribution to global warming, air acidification, water eutrophication, etc.). 

The missions

The intern’s role will be to contribute to the ongoing work at Terres Inovia on life cycle assessments (LCAs) of processed products derived from oilseeds and legumes. This will involve contributing to two collaborative projects:

• DECOPROZE: concerning a new, higher-protein, low-emission rapeseed variety. The environmental assessment will focus on the cultivation of this new rapeseed using more agroecological practices (compared to existing LCA benchmarks for standard rapeseed cultivation) and on the resulting high-protein rapeseed meal and its potential for more sustainable animal feed. The data required for LCA calculations will be provided by the project partners (agricultural cooperative, industry).
• INSERT THEM: research and innovation efforts focused on six species of grain legumes across the entire production chain, from upstream to downstream, with the goal of overcoming the barriers hindering the growth of these crops. Value creation for farmers in short supply chains is examined through a case study: that of shelled field beans. An environmental assessment will be conducted on the agri-food processing stages of field beans (LCA references already available for field bean cultivation): shelling, fermentation, flour production, and subsequent integration into an agri-food product (such as dessert cream). The use of fava bean hulls is also taken into account in the environmental assessment (as an innovation in the form of a cocoa substitute). The data required to perform the LCA will be provided by Terres Inovia’s partner startups in this project.

The LCAs will be conducted using the Means InOut software and SimaPro, the leading LCA software, which you will learn to use during your internship at Terres Inovia under the supervision of an expert.

Qualifications

• A student enrolled in an agricultural engineering program (crop production or animal production), an agri-food program, or a master’s program (4–5 years of higher education).
• You are interested in environmental issues related to agricultural and agri-food production.
• You are comfortable with data processing and analysis.

Terms and Benefits

Compensation 

Statutory internship stipend + meal vouchers + transportation allowance

Highlights of this opportunity

A highly rewarding work environment in terms of personal growth, teamwork, collaboration with other Terres Inovia teams at other sites, interaction with the ITERG environmental team, and engagement with the industrial partners of both projects.

Location 

Our Pessac-Canéjan site is located near the University of Bordeaux campus and is accessible by public transportation (tram, bus).