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From "farm to fork" strawberry system: current realities and potential innovative scenarios from life cycle assessment of non-renewable energy use and green house gas emissions.
Sci Total Environ. 2014 Mar 01; 473-474:48-53.ST

Abstract

In this study, we analysed the environmental profile of the strawberry industry in Northern Italy. The analysis was conducted using two scenarios as reference systems: strawberry crops grown in unheated plastic tunnels using currently existing cultivation techniques, post-harvest management practices and consumption patterns (scenario 1) and the same strawberry cultivation chain in which some of the materials used were replaced with bio-based materials (scenario 2). In numerous studies, biodegradable polymers have been shown to be environmentally friendly, thus potentially reducing environmental impacts. These materials can be recycled into carbon dioxide and water through composting. Many materials, such as Mater-BI® and PLA®, are also derived from renewable resources. The methodology chosen for the environmental analysis was a life cycle assessment (LCA) based on a consequential approach developed to assess a product's overall environmental impact from the production system to its usage and disposal. In the field stage, a traditional mulching film (non-biodegradable) could be replaced with a biodegradable product. This change would result in waste production of 0 kg/ha for the bio-based product compared to 260 kg/ha of waste for polyethylene (PE). In the post-harvest stage, the issue addressed was the use and disposal of packaging materials. The innovative scenario evaluated herein pertains to the use of new packaging materials that increase the shelf life of strawberries, thereby decreasing product losses while increasing waste management efficiency at the level of a distribution platform and/or sales outlet. In the event of product deterioration or non-sale of the product, the packaging and its contents could be collected together as organic waste without any additional processes because the packaging is compostable according to EN13432. Scenario 2 would achieve reductions of 20% in the global warming potential and non-renewable energy impact categories.

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Publisher Full Text (DOI)

Authors+Show Affiliations

Girgenti V
Department of Agricultural Sciences, Forestry and Food, University of Turin, Italy. Electronic address: vincenzo.girgenti@unito.it.
Peano C
Department of Agricultural Sciences, Forestry and Food, University of Turin, Italy.
Baudino C
Ortofruititalia, Corso Roma 14, 12037 Saluzzo (CN) Italy.
Tecco N
Department of Agricultural Sciences, Forestry and Food, University of Turin, Italy.

MeSH

AgricultureAir PollutantsAir PollutionCarbon DioxideConservation of Natural ResourcesEnvironmentFragariaRecyclingRenewable EnergyWaste ManagementWaste Products

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Language

eng

PubMed ID

24361447

Citation

Girgenti, Vincenzo, et al. "From "farm to Fork" Strawberry System: Current Realities and Potential Innovative Scenarios From Life Cycle Assessment of Non-renewable Energy Use and Green House Gas Emissions." The Science of the Total Environment, vol. 473-474, 2014, pp. 48-53.
Girgenti V, Peano C, Baudino C, et al. From "farm to fork" strawberry system: current realities and potential innovative scenarios from life cycle assessment of non-renewable energy use and green house gas emissions. Sci Total Environ. 2014;473-474:48-53.
Girgenti, V., Peano, C., Baudino, C., & Tecco, N. (2014). From "farm to fork" strawberry system: current realities and potential innovative scenarios from life cycle assessment of non-renewable energy use and green house gas emissions. The Science of the Total Environment, 473-474, 48-53. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2013.11.133
Girgenti V, et al. From "farm to Fork" Strawberry System: Current Realities and Potential Innovative Scenarios From Life Cycle Assessment of Non-renewable Energy Use and Green House Gas Emissions. Sci Total Environ. 2014 Mar 1;473-474:48-53. PubMed PMID: 24361447.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
TY - JOUR T1 - From "farm to fork" strawberry system: current realities and potential innovative scenarios from life cycle assessment of non-renewable energy use and green house gas emissions. AU - Girgenti,Vincenzo, AU - Peano,Cristiana, AU - Baudino,Claudio, AU - Tecco,Nadia, Y1 - 2013/12/19/ PY - 2013/09/03/received PY - 2013/11/20/revised PY - 2013/11/27/accepted PY - 2013/12/24/entrez PY - 2013/12/24/pubmed PY - 2014/9/11/medline KW - LCA KW - Mulching KW - Packaging KW - Strawberry KW - Waste SP - 48 EP - 53 JF - The Science of the total environment JO - Sci Total Environ VL - 473-474 N2 - In this study, we analysed the environmental profile of the strawberry industry in Northern Italy. The analysis was conducted using two scenarios as reference systems: strawberry crops grown in unheated plastic tunnels using currently existing cultivation techniques, post-harvest management practices and consumption patterns (scenario 1) and the same strawberry cultivation chain in which some of the materials used were replaced with bio-based materials (scenario 2). In numerous studies, biodegradable polymers have been shown to be environmentally friendly, thus potentially reducing environmental impacts. These materials can be recycled into carbon dioxide and water through composting. Many materials, such as Mater-BI® and PLA®, are also derived from renewable resources. The methodology chosen for the environmental analysis was a life cycle assessment (LCA) based on a consequential approach developed to assess a product's overall environmental impact from the production system to its usage and disposal. In the field stage, a traditional mulching film (non-biodegradable) could be replaced with a biodegradable product. This change would result in waste production of 0 kg/ha for the bio-based product compared to 260 kg/ha of waste for polyethylene (PE). In the post-harvest stage, the issue addressed was the use and disposal of packaging materials. The innovative scenario evaluated herein pertains to the use of new packaging materials that increase the shelf life of strawberries, thereby decreasing product losses while increasing waste management efficiency at the level of a distribution platform and/or sales outlet. In the event of product deterioration or non-sale of the product, the packaging and its contents could be collected together as organic waste without any additional processes because the packaging is compostable according to EN13432. Scenario 2 would achieve reductions of 20% in the global warming potential and non-renewable energy impact categories. SN - 1879-1026 UR - https://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/citation/24361447/From_"farm_to_fork"_strawberry_system:_current_realities_and_potential_innovative_scenarios_from_life_cycle_assessment_of_non_renewable_energy_use_and_green_house_gas_emissions_ DB - PRIME DP - Unbound Medicine ER -