Comparative environmental and nutritional sustainability analysis of Kabuli and Desi Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) types at the farm and product level

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) was conducted to evaluate the environmental impact of cultivating black (Desi type) and white (Kabuli type) chickpeas in Europe under both organic and conventional farming systems. The LCA on a mass basis (1 kg of product) showed that Kabuli chickpea cultivation had a lower global warming potential, water use, and land occupation due to higher yields and more established farming practices for this variety in conventional systems. This study also examined the environmental impact of producing hummus derived from these two raw materials. The LCA on a mass basis (1 kg of product) showed that hummus production generally had a lower environmental impact when using Kabuli chickpeas primarily due to higher yield efficiency and optimised farming practices for the Kabuli type. However, when nutritional LCA is considered, using Nutrient Density as a functional unit (NDU), Desi hummus demonstrates lower environmental impacts in most categories, particularly regarding eutrophication and acidification potential. The study highlights the trade-offs between environmental impacts and nutritional benefits while comparing organic and conventional farming systems, suggesting that incorporating underutilised types such as Desi chickpeas could contribute to a more sustainable and nutritionally diverse food system.