Logicout
Online calculator for measuring the environmental footprint and delivery costs in short food supply delivery operations
Description
Logicout is an online calculator that estimates the greenhouse gas emissions and financial costs of food delivery operations, both for a simple round trip from the farm to the individual customer, and to several delivery points. The calculation takes into account the cost price per kilometre of the vehicle used, the time spent driving, and the many other logistical factors affecting deliveries, such as order taking, product packaging, order preparation and invoicing. Logicout can help when deciding on an appropriate sales price, and in the optimization of trips, informing the user whether it is profitable to deliver to a particular outlet, and on the best departure times to avoid traffic problems. Logicout also calculates the quantities of greenhouse gases and air pollutants emitted during the transportation of products.
Technology
The Application Programming Interface (API) allows Logicout to be used by other web applications. The calculator uses an algorithm created by Cerema-Softosapiens-Université Gustave Eiffel that is protected as an intellectual property right, and the processed data are directly imputed by the user. The data inputs refer to the type of vehicle, the fuel used, the vehicle engine size, the year of the vehicle, the itinerary and any specific parameters concerning the food delivered (weight, refrigeration, packaging, etc.).
Target
The main users of Logicout are operations in the agri-food sector, including those in the field (e.g. agricultural producers, breeders) to those engaged in processing and delivery (e.g. craftsmen, logistic operators, cooperatives that aggregate supply and demand). The tool can be used to estimate the costs of deliveries, and can benefit any organization that supports producers in their search for more economical and more optimized solutions or new outlets (e.g. through Chambers of Agriculture, CIVAM, producers' associations, cooperatives, web platforms).
Business model
Logicout is a free web application for farmers who market their food products in short or local circuits. An educational toolkit attached to the site offers support to assessments of the logistical costs of farmer groups, allowing the more equitable distribution of costs and thus strengthening the operation in time. The application takes three months to deploy, and the estimated cost for the maintenance and administration of the application by Ifsttar and Cerema is Euro 10 000/year.
Impact
The user data of operations that make use of Logicout can be followed on the application's home page. More than 5000 calculations have been made since the application entered into operation, across the national territory. The web application is simple and intuitive to use, and features not only a calculator but also an educational toolkit to support changes in the organization of logistics. At the time of writing, 716 accounts were registered on the site and the calculator has been visited 21 717 times.
Partners
The French Institute of Science and Technology of Transport, Development and Networks (IFSTTAR), project pilot; the Center for studies and expertise on risks, environment, mobility and planning (Cerema); the Normandy Chamber of Agriculture, the Bio-Normandie association; The Hive-that-says-Yes!; the Urban Ecology Agency of Paris City Hall
Four Betters
Better production
Better environment
