To increase food availability, optimizing production systems and reducing burdens related to human activities is essential in a scenario of population growth and limited natural resources. In this context, the life cycle methodology can represent a valuable asset for assessing the environmental performance of agricultural products and services. This study sought to investigate and characterize potential impacts of an experimental tomato field at the University of Perugia and evaluate if the production increment obtained using high-reflective mulching compensated for the emissions caused by this extra component. The first-year crop campaign was the baseline reference to measure the system’s efficiency. A CML baseline method applied demonstrated that the covered field (F1) was associated with more than 23 kg CO (Formula presented.) eq emissions (25% attributed to the mulch) in comparison to about 18 kg CO (Formula presented.) eq of the non-covered sector (F2). In addition, electronic components and drainage systems were linked with most toxicity indicators. However, the F1 field’s higher productivity compensated for the mulch impact, resulting in 9% lower CO (Formula presented.) equivalent emissions per kg yield in the first year and 18% lower each year for 30 years. The results encourage application of this approach in urban contexts with several benefits.

Frota de Albuquerque Landi F., Fabiani C., Pisello A.L., Petrozzi A., Milone D., Cotana F. (2022). Environmental Assessment of an Innovative High-Performance Experimental Agriculture Field. SUSTAINABILITY, 14(17), 10462 [10.3390/su141710462].

Environmental Assessment of an Innovative High-Performance Experimental Agriculture Field

Milone D.;
2022-08-23

Abstract

To increase food availability, optimizing production systems and reducing burdens related to human activities is essential in a scenario of population growth and limited natural resources. In this context, the life cycle methodology can represent a valuable asset for assessing the environmental performance of agricultural products and services. This study sought to investigate and characterize potential impacts of an experimental tomato field at the University of Perugia and evaluate if the production increment obtained using high-reflective mulching compensated for the emissions caused by this extra component. The first-year crop campaign was the baseline reference to measure the system’s efficiency. A CML baseline method applied demonstrated that the covered field (F1) was associated with more than 23 kg CO (Formula presented.) eq emissions (25% attributed to the mulch) in comparison to about 18 kg CO (Formula presented.) eq of the non-covered sector (F2). In addition, electronic components and drainage systems were linked with most toxicity indicators. However, the F1 field’s higher productivity compensated for the mulch impact, resulting in 9% lower CO (Formula presented.) equivalent emissions per kg yield in the first year and 18% lower each year for 30 years. The results encourage application of this approach in urban contexts with several benefits.
23-ago-2022
Frota de Albuquerque Landi F., Fabiani C., Pisello A.L., Petrozzi A., Milone D., Cotana F. (2022). Environmental Assessment of an Innovative High-Performance Experimental Agriculture Field. SUSTAINABILITY, 14(17), 10462 [10.3390/su141710462].
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
Environmental Assessment of an Innovative High-Performance Experimental Agriculture Field.pdf

accesso aperto

Tipologia: Versione Editoriale
Dimensione 9.27 MB
Formato Adobe PDF
9.27 MB Adobe PDF Visualizza/Apri

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10447/569269
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus 1
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 1
social impact