The Eco-Efficiency of Castor Supply Chain: A Greek Case Study

Abstract

Castor is a candidate crop that grows in marginal lands in the Mediterranean area. It can be grown by utilizing minimal resources to provide unique industrial chemicals or to serve as an energy crop. However, it can be also cultivated with intensive inputs providing higher yields. Whether a high input or a low input scheme is more sustainable depends on the economic and environmental impacts of each case. The objective of the present study, therefore, was to evaluate these impacts under the Mediterranean climate and farming conditions by examining two alternative scenarios: a castor crop grown on a low-inputs field vs. a crop grown in a high-inputs one. The environmental impacts were estimated by following a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology based on GHG emissions. Furthermore, a sensitivity analysis was performed by switching the functional unit from 1 Mg of castor oil to 1 hectare. The economic feasibility of the castor crop production was assessed by calculating the gross margin, which is referred to the difference between revenues and the variable costs due to the agricultural phases. In addition, the ratio between gross margin and GWP (Global Warming Potential) emissions was applied to calculate the economic performance (gross margin) per unit of environmental burden. Findings showed that the castor oil produced by high inputs resulted in a more sustainable scenario due to its higher yield than low-inputs ones. On the other hand, sensitivity analysis showed that the field management with low inputs showed GHG emissions that were 27% lower than those emitted from the field management with high inputs. Moreover, from an economic point of view, by switching the field management from low inputs to high ones, the Gross Margin increased by about 73%. Finally, the high-inputs scenario showed the best ratio between economic performance and GHG emitted into the atmosphere.

A biorefinery model for the production of oil and biomethane using castor plants

“…Regarding the effect of nitrogen fertilization, there was an increase in castor seed yield in the treatment supplied with 120 kg N ha −1 , as also reported by Pari et al (2022), who obtained similar results for castor hybrids under a Mediterranean climate with high‐input field management (100 kg N ha −1 ) and Calcagno et al (2023), who investigated the perennial habit of castor under different irrigation and nitrogen fertilization levels in the Mediterranean area while maintaining the crop over a 2‐year period. Weiss (2000) reported that nitrogen fertilization had little effect on seed oil content, which is consistent with our results.…”

Synthesis, Characterization, and Soil Burial Degradation of Biobased Polyurethanes

“…Featuring high biodegradability and environmentally friendly characteristics, castor oil has emerged as valid alternative to petroleum-based reagents for the manufacturing of different polymers, including polyurethanes, epoxies, polyamides, and polyesters [1][2][3][4][5]. Compared with other vegetable oils such as soybean oil, rapeseed oil, palm oil, cottonseed oil, or Karanja oil, castor oil has more green characteristics since it does not affect the food chain and it can be grown in marginal lands [6,7]. Furthermore, castor oil is the only commercially available natural oil containing hydroxyl groups (in the ricinoleic acid chains), which have recently attracted particular interest for the preparation of polyurethanes (PUs) [8,9].…”