Abstract
Organic agriculture is perceived as environmentally sustainable, but, under its umbrella, different production systems exist ranging from simplified organic productions to well diversified systems with a full implementation of agro-ecological approaches. Among several developed tools for agriculture sustainability assessment, multi-criteria models are increasingly gaining importance. In this study, we evaluated the use of the multi-criteria DEXi-BIOrt tool, coupled with data from long-term experiments, for the sustainability assessment of different organic vegetable production scenarios. These scenarios were applied in two Italian areas: the Adriatic coast of Marche Region and the Metaponto plan of Basilicata Region. Despite the presence of some critical issues, DEXI-BIOrt proved to be a valid tool for the sustainability evaluation of organic vegetable productions. In both areas, the most sustainable scenarios resulted the well diversified organic systems characterized by proper rotations, inclusion of agro-ecological service crops, cultivation of local and different cultivars, and presence of short supply chain mechanisms. Conversely, the implementation of the simplified organic substitution scenarios does not guarantee a suitable level of sustainability. The findings of this study could support decision makers in the implementation of appropriate measures for enhancing organic production sustainability in the framework of post-2020 Common Agricultural Policy.
Highlights
In recent years, agriculture has faced an increasing number of challenges imposed by climate change, resource reduction, market volatility, and production of raw materials to guarantee food security and to reduce dependence on fossil provisions [1]
We evaluated the use of the multi-criteria DEXi-BIOrt tool, coupled with data from long-term experiments, for the sustainability assessment of different organic vegetable production scenarios
For the simulation of this scenario we considered the same yields of AE2016, no agroecological service crops (ASC), double doses of plant protection products than those applied in AE2016, and the same amounts of fertilizer inputs used in CO2007
Summary
Agriculture has faced an increasing number of challenges imposed by climate change, resource reduction, market volatility, and production of raw materials to guarantee food security and to reduce dependence on fossil provisions [1]. Agricultural systems are deeply changing to satisfy the developed society and consumer expectations which demand more sustainable products characterized by higher quality and reduced environmental impacts. More efficient agriculture models were proposed and implemented to address these challenges and respond to the increasing demand of sustainability [2]. Ikerd [3] defined sustainability in agriculture as the ability to satisfy simultaneously a series of objectives such as food production, environmental protection, economic viability, and social acceptance and to maintain this capacity in a long-term period
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