Abstract
This paper aims to achieve an economic feasibility and life cycle assessment of three different olive cultivation systems in the Mediterranean area through the joint use of economic and environmental indicators, in order to identify the key elements to optimize their economic performance and a lower environmental impact. Three different management systems of olive cultivation were analysed by distinguishing Treatment 1—Fully Irrigated, Treatment 2—Partially Irrigated, and Treatment 3—Non-Irrigated, which were conducted through different levels of irrigation strategies. The three scenarios were examined using a Life Cycle Assessment methodology to assess the environmental impacts, and the impact in terms of water footprint was investigated using the Water Scarcity Index approach. The economic sustainability evaluation of olive cultivation was carried out through economic indicators, taking into account all of the cost and revenue factors of the olive cultivation in each management system. The results showed, overall, a suitable level of profitability of different scenarios, except for the Partially Irrigated treatment, as the investment costs of the irrigation system are not economically sustainable with regard to the revenue obtained. Furthermore, the findings highlighted the importance of irrigation management strategies to decrease agricultural practice costs and the negative environmental impact of olive production.
Highlights
The olive tree (Olea europaea L.) is a species of the Oleaceae family originating from a dry-subtropical climate [1], from the Eastern Mediterranean [2]
Numerous researchers have identified objective standards based on the use of specific indicators, providing useful findings for the identification of specific guidelines to measure the impacts of agricultural practices on the environment both per unit of surface area and per product unit [35]
In order to carry out an life cycle assessment (LCA) study to assess the environmental impact of olive growing in different irrigation treatments, weekly field surveys were conducted to collect the data
Summary
The olive tree (Olea europaea L.) is a species of the Oleaceae family originating from a dry-subtropical climate [1], from the Eastern Mediterranean [2]. The new National Olive Growing Plan, among its objectives, envisages increasing national olive production, without increasing the already strong pressure on natural resources, in particular on water [25] This will be realised through the rationalization of the cultivation of traditional olive groves, the renewal of the plants, and the introduction of new cultivation systems capable of reconciling environmental and economic sustainability [4,26,27]. Since the 1990s, different analytical and methodological approaches have been developed to establish criteria for measuring the impact of crops on the surrounding environment To this end, numerous researchers have identified objective standards based on the use of specific indicators, providing useful findings for the identification of specific guidelines to measure the impacts of agricultural practices on the environment both per unit of surface area and per product unit [35].
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