Environmental impacts of rice production analyzed via social capital development: An Iranian case study with a life cycle assessment/data envelopment analysis approach

Abstract

Abstract Agricultural production inevitably poses adverse impacts on local environment, while the collective action of farmers can also contribute positively to sustainable resources management. The structural component of economic actors' integration is often related to social capital. This study analyses the impacts of farmers' socio-economic conditions on energy use and life cycle environmental impacts of Iranian rice production. Based on the local socio-economic status and life cycle assessment, some types of social capital groups are suggested to achieve cooperative rice production with lower burden on the environment. Four social capital groups, namely “water, fertilizer and pesticide users”, “consolidated farming”, “new technology users” and “micro-finance”, are suggested according to the life cycle assessment. The members of each social capital group were determined by data envelopment analysis to guarantee that each social capital group moves toward better rice production methods with lower burden on the environment. Technical efficiency of farmers was determined by data envelopment analysis models which in turn help us identify core and target members of each social capital group. The results show that the lowest energy input for rice production is 28,000 MJ/ha, which appeared in groups with medium aged farmers who have medium farming experiences. The sample farmers with higher net income, larger farms and participating in extensional classes contribute to mitigate total energy consumption of rice production. The life cycle assessment confirms that those socio-economic groups consuming lower energy also impose lower burden on the environment.