Environmental Impact of Different Business Models: An LCA Study of Fresh Tomato Production in Italy

Abstract

This paper aims to define and measure the environmental impacts associated with three distinct industry techniques used in the production of fresh tomatoes, from planting to harvesting. A comparative Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is conducted to evaluate the environmental performance of producing one kilogram of fresh processing tomatoes. The study includes three Italian companies representing different Business Models: standard production, integrated production, and precision farming. The impact evaluation method used is ReCiPe, at both midpoint and endpoint levels. The results reveal that the adoption of advanced technology, such as precision farming, in managing the agricultural production of fresh tomatoes leads to a significant reduction in environmental impacts across all categories analyzed. Interestingly, the largest contribution to climate-changing gases comes from the use of fertilizers. Precision farming demonstrates a remarkable reduction of CO2 emissions by 52% compared to integrated production and 67% compared to standard production. This analysis provides valuable insights for managers and policymakers in developing strategies for large-scale, sustainable production using innovative techniques. The main contribution of this study lies in comparing the performance of three different Business Models employed in Italian fresh tomato production.

Comparative life cycle assessment of environmental impacts and economic feasibility of tomato cultivation systems in northern plains of India

“…Their research emphasized the lower GWP contribution of organic cultivation, with a substantial 40% lower impact on average per 1 hectare of production, compared to conventional (3154.03 kg CO 2 -eq per ha in organic vs. 5290.74 kg CO 2 -eq per ha in conventional of GHG emissions). Similarly, Solimene et al 59 conducted a LCA on fresh tomatoes, comparing three business models at the farm gate. Results revealed a significant contrast, with a higher GWP of 5542 kg CO 2 -eq per ha in standard production (with increased agrochemical use) compared to 1600 kg CO 2 -eq/ha in precision farming.…”

“…This decrease was primarily associated with the potential reduction in synthetic fertilizer and pesticide use. Furthermore, advocating for organic nutrient management is considered a means to reduce adverse environmental impacts while simultaneously improving soil quality, biodiversity, human health, and ecosystem quality 59 , 64 .…”

Environmental and Economic Performance of Greenhouse Cropping in the Mediterranean Basin: Lessons Learnt from a Cross-Country Comparison

“…However, greenhouse farming creates significant environmental impacts, as it requires the consumption of significant amounts of production inputs (especially fertilizers and pesticides) and natural resources (mainly water for irrigation) to ensure optimal growing conditions for crops [3]. Understanding these impacts and the processes that primarily contribute to them (hotspots) can provide valuable information for optimizing the sustainability of greenhouse tomato production [4]. Mediterranean greenhouses for vegetable production share several common features (e.g., simple metal and plastic structures, no artificial lighting systems and low levels of technology, among others).…”

Life Cycle Assessment of Tomato Cultivated in an Innovative Soilless System

“…The productivity of tomatoes and, consequently, their life cycle assessment (LCA) impacts, are influenced by various factors, including the climate of the cultivation area, tomato variety, production cycle, cultivation system, etc. [12][13][14][15]. Many studies have been conducted on the LCA impacts of tomato production, considering greenhouse or open field cultivation methods [16][17][18][19][20][21].…”