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Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a powerful tool that may be used to analyse the potential environmental impacts related to agricultural sector. Specifically, LCA is based on an iterative approach that is well suited to the multi-functionality of the agricultural activity. The management of a cropping system should ensure food and energy security and protect natural resources. However, the food and energy requirement due to the continuous growing of world population might lead to an overexploitation of natural resources and adoption of intensive crop production practices. An increase in renewable energy use and the application of principles and technologies of conservation and precision agriculture might help to achieve a sustainable intensification of crop production. In order to face this challenge and specifically foster water and energy saving, the SolAqua project proposes to combine the solar energy for irrigation water pumping and high-efficiency water management techniques. On the other hand, installing a solar irrigation (SI) has environmental impacts which should be evaluated. The report highlights that LCA is a tool suitable for assessing the environmental burden of an SI system and useful to support both individual agricultural activity and the planning of a possible large-scale introduction of SI systems, thus adapting to the needs of the different ISINPA. For this purpose, the document describes in detail the different LCA phases (i.e., Goal and scope definition, Inventory analysis, Impact assessment, and Interpretation) by focusing on how adapting the LCA tool to the specificities of a cropping systems and an agricultural process (e.g., solar irrigation). These aspects are essential to achieve reliable results such as to draw sound conclusions, and thus to make useful recommendations. A glossary synthetically shows the meaning of the terms most frequently used in the LCA method. Finally, a case study describes an application of the LCA method to a horticultural cropping system. |
