ISHS Acta Horticulturae 619: XXVI International Horticultural Congress: Potatoes, Healthy Food for Humanity: International Developments in Breeding, Production, Protection and Utilization
ENVIRONMENTAL LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT (LCA) OF ORGANIC POTATOES |
| Authors: | B. Mattsson, E. Wallén |
| Keywords: | Organic potatoes, Life Cycle Assessment, environmental assessment |
| Abstract:
An LCA of organic potatoes cultivated in southern Sweden was carried out to gain more knowledge about the environmental impact and resource use along the food chain. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a method for analysis and assessment of the potential environmental impact caused by products (ISO 14040). Included in the study were the production of inputs to agriculture, agricultural production, sorting and packaging, distribution and the household phase. The use of energy, water and other resources were also included as well as basic environmental impact categories such as global warming, acidification, eutrophication, toxicity, ozone depletion and photo-oxidant formation. A major finding was that the agricultural production accounted for almost all the emissions contributing to eutrophication and acidification. Other findings were that agricultural production, production of packaging materials and the household phase were the main contributors to global warming, while the energy use was rather evenly distributed among the life cycle stages. The primary improvement options identified in the study were to reduce nitrogen emissions contributing to acidification and eutrophication and to reduce potato losses due to poor quality. The organic potato yields are generally very low, typically about 60% of the conventional levels. Increased yields would be beneficial from an environmental point of view. | |
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