Provide Accessible TCA Guidance and Increased Research Capacity
To scale, TCA must become easier to understand and apply. Simplifying and driving convergence between approaches, improving access to data, and expanding research capacity will make TCA more inclusive, practical, and actionable.
Community Insights
Many organizations that could benefit the most from TCA lack the expertise, funding, data, or capacity to conduct and apply assessments. Confusion around definitions and inconsistent methodologies further undermine adoption and comparability, and expose TCA to potential greenwashing. The community called for continued dialogue to identify areas of agreement and potential standardization between TCA approaches and language. They made clear, however, that this dialogue should not hold up the delivery of urgently needed resources, including simpler tools and guidance, to make TCA usable for stakeholders across the food system. Stakeholders noted:
- TCA is concentrated among elite, well-resourced institutions. Existing frameworks and methodologies are technical and complex, creating barriers for smaller organizations and community-based initiatives.
- Challenges in collecting and accessing quality, contextually relevant data make assessments difficult to conduct and apply.
- Confusion about what qualifies as TCA undermines credibility and comparability.
- Guidance tends to be highly technical and relies on stakeholders to have robust data, institutional buy-in, and capacity for conducting and interpreting assessments.
- New tools and refined research approaches would simplify processes, ensure consistency, and allow for contextual relevance.
- Institutions would also benefit from greater access to advisors, relevant data sources, and peer learning exchanges.
- Stronger alignment with adjacent methodologies (e.g., life cycle assessment) could enhance research quality, comparability, and application.
- The degree to which it is necessary to harmonize TCA frameworks and methodologies remains an area of disagreement. Some members of the TCA community see establishing standards and harmonizing between approaches as essential for progress, while others see TCA’s current flexibility as ensuring accessibility and contextual adaptation, particularly in the Global South.
Provide Accessible TCA Guidance and Increased Research Capacity
5.1
Establish a Process to Identify Opportunities for TCA Methods Convergence and Standardization
Responding to a long-held concern within the TCA community, this action will explore opportunities for greater convergence across TCA methods and, where appropriate, standardization. Grounded in shared TCA principles, the process will strengthen rigor and address greenwashing concerns across TCA applications.
Provide Accessible TCA Guidance and Increased Research Capacity
5.2
Create TCA Starter Kits to Ease Introduction to TCA Concepts and Methods for a Variety of Users
Conducting a TCA analysis currently requires significant funding, technical expertise, and time — creating a barrier to entry for all but the most well-resourced users. TCA Starter Kits will provide a more accessible and interactive entry point for potential users, enabling wider understanding and adoption.
Provide Accessible TCA Guidance and Increased Research Capacity
5.3
Establish a TCA Data Commons
Reliable and accessible data are essential to understanding agrifood system costs and benefits. However, persistent challenges around data collection, data sovereignty, and access have limited TCA’s reach and impact. A TCA Data Commons would aggregate primary data from TCA analyses and relevant public sources, creating shared infrastructure to support future projects and strengthen analytical capacity across the community.
Provide Accessible TCA Guidance and Increased Research Capacity
5.4
Launch a Train-the-Trainer Program
Stakeholders said that scaling TCA requires rapidly building capacity — especially in underserved countries and regions. A train-the-trainer program would build capacity through peer-to-peer learning and create a global network of practitioners. Peer trainers could localize TCA approaches and expand adoption while maintaining consistency through shared principles and tools.
Provide Accessible TCA Guidance and Increased Research Capacity
5.5
Establish TCA Research Centers and Fellowships
Stakeholders identified a clear need to expand research capacity and refine methodologies to address data gaps and encourage evidence-based decision-making. Dedicated TCA research and academic fellowships would broaden the field and deepen relevance for government, business, civil society, and multilateral bodies.
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