The Italian olive-growing sector has to face both the growing competition on the international olive oil mar-ket and the shift of the common agricultural policy (CAP) from market and price policies towards direct aids decoupled from production. In addition the olive growers, as other farmers, have to comply with stricter obligations to manage their farms in sustainable ways (cross compliance). In this scenario the sector needs new competitive strategies to address these new challenges. In this paper we assess if innovative olive-growing models, like the high trees density orchards, are able to reduce production costs without worsening environmental sustainability. Indeed the intensive olive systems produce higher yields within a few years of planting and allow a higher level of mechanization (pruning and harvesting) but they could generate higher environmental impacts. In this study we perform an economic and environmental comparison between two olive growing systems: the "high density" and the “super high density”. The analysis integrates the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and the Life Cycle Costing (LCC) methods by using a common database.
Innovative olive-growing models: an economic and environmental assessment
DE GENNARO, Bernardo Corrado;ROSELLI, LUIGI;NOTARNICOLA, Bruno;TASSIELLI, GIUSEPPE;
2010-01-01
Abstract
The Italian olive-growing sector has to face both the growing competition on the international olive oil mar-ket and the shift of the common agricultural policy (CAP) from market and price policies towards direct aids decoupled from production. In addition the olive growers, as other farmers, have to comply with stricter obligations to manage their farms in sustainable ways (cross compliance). In this scenario the sector needs new competitive strategies to address these new challenges. In this paper we assess if innovative olive-growing models, like the high trees density orchards, are able to reduce production costs without worsening environmental sustainability. Indeed the intensive olive systems produce higher yields within a few years of planting and allow a higher level of mechanization (pruning and harvesting) but they could generate higher environmental impacts. In this study we perform an economic and environmental comparison between two olive growing systems: the "high density" and the “super high density”. The analysis integrates the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and the Life Cycle Costing (LCC) methods by using a common database.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.