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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
The evaluation of the environmental impacts of chestnut production in the Beira Interior region
(Portugal) is accessed. The comparative life cycle assessment (LCA) was performed with the use of
openLCA software with 16 Environmental Footprint (EF) impact categories retrieved from the
AGRIBALYSE database. The system boundary was from “cradle-to-farm gate” and the functional
unit was 1 ton of chestnut delivered to consumers (only wholesale buyers). The processes model
for the production of agricultural machinery, pesticides, fertilizers, and materials was modeled
based on surveys and existing literature. The data was gathered from four different production
areas: Serra da Estrela, Malcata, Gardunha, and Plateau area. Each site has two selected repre-
sentative producers inner 250 km2 square radius environment. The results showed that the
average GHG emissions in the low-input group (Estrela and Gardunha) were 1.83 kg CO2-eq/ton
with the energy burden (80–89%) as main contribution emissions and in the intensive-input
group (Malcata and Plateau) were 2.61 kg CO2-eq/ton with the main contribution source of
emissions are fertilizer (76–83%). Sensitivity analysis results indicate shift input material and
cultivation activities in chestnut production systems can be possible for all study areas without
reducing yield production. The suggestions in this article can be used by farmers, policymakers,
and other stakeholders to adopt new alternative production scenarios.
Description
Keywords
Food system Alternative scenario Environmental footprint AGRIBALYSE LCA
Citation
Publisher
Heliyon