Life Cycle Assessment of Maple Syrup Production

Abstract

widespread among Native American tribes in the Northeast prior to European settlement, with stories of maple production appearing in myths from the Abenaki, Iroquois, and Mi’kmaq peoples (UVM, 2022). Today maple syrup and maple products are a large and growing global industry. Maple syrup’s unique flavor, already a staple in many US and Canadian products, is becoming more popular in new markets in Europe and Asia. Maple syrup is also increasingly being marketed as a natural unprocessed sweetener for the health-conscious consumers (Atlantic Corporation Market Report, 2019).

In 2022 American sugar makers reportedly produced over 5.8 million gallons of syrup. Over 9,000 independent maple producers across the US collected, processed, and distributed this syrup to consumers across the globe (NASS, 2024). It is widely believed by industry experts that domestic production levels may be even higher, with this number being underestimated by as much as 30% (M. Farrell, personal communication, August 15, 2023). US-produced syrup was valued at nearly 216 million dollars in 2022 (NASS, 2024), comprising 20% of the global maple syrup market (Statista, 2023a).

As with many agricultural products, climate change is having a number of impacts on where and when maple syrup is produced. Maple tree sap only flows in very specific weather conditions when temperatures are mild during the day and drop below freezing at night. Sap does not start running when temperatures are too cold, and when it rises above 55 degrees Fahrenheit the sap begins to dry up. As such the US maple season typically only lasts between 25 and 40 days and has unpredictable start and end dates each season (NASS, 2024). Producers remain vigilant from January to April to make the most of each sugaring day when sap is flowing.

Producers are already seeing the impacts of climate change on sugaring timelines, with syrup seasons in many regions starting as early as December and ending by March (Rapp et. al. 2019). There is concern within some in the maple community that climate change will have long term impacts on where syrup can be sustainably produced. It renders some areas infeasible for long term maple syrup production and makes syrup production more common in areas where it was previously not viable. Another concern with a forestry product like maple syrup is vulnerability to wildfires, like the record-breaking blazes that burned across Canada in 2023. While hardwood trees like maple are typically less prone to burning than softwood conifers, a dramatic increase in wildfire frequency and severity could put maple forests at risk.