This study aimed to assess the environmental effectiveness of vineyards utilising on-site weather stations integrated with a decision support system (DSS), and to identify the critical hotspots in smart farms that have already obtained integrated or organic certification. For this purpose, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology was applied. The research comprised three smart farms employing on-site weather stations and a traditional farm without advanced technologies, which served as a benchmark. The analysis revealed variations in environmental footprints driven by differences in farm management practices and soil characteristics. The results highlighted that smart farms, in compliance with integrated or organic certifications, focus on reducing inputs such as agrochemicals or water consumption. However, these reductions could shift the environmental burden to other impacts, such as those related to machinery use, which remained the most critical aspect across all vineyards considered. In some smart farms, critical issues involve other aspects, such as irrigation and fertilisation. The lack of awareness about the potential environmental impacts of the adopted technical options could make smart farms more impactful than traditional farms. Interestingly, this study found that solely implementing advanced technologies could fall short of achieving ecological objectives. This study emphasises the significance of utilising LCA as a valuable tool to support farmers in making informed decisions while adopting technological strategies to achieve environmentally sustainable goals.

Evaluating the environmental impacts of smart vineyards through the Life Cycle Assessment / Tascione, Valentino; Raggi, Andrea; Petti, Luigia; Manca, Gavina. - In: SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT. - ISSN 0048-9697. - 922:(2024), pp. 1-14. [10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171240]

Evaluating the environmental impacts of smart vineyards through the Life Cycle Assessment

Valentino Tascione
Data Curation
;
Gavina Manca
Project Administration
2024-01-01

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the environmental effectiveness of vineyards utilising on-site weather stations integrated with a decision support system (DSS), and to identify the critical hotspots in smart farms that have already obtained integrated or organic certification. For this purpose, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology was applied. The research comprised three smart farms employing on-site weather stations and a traditional farm without advanced technologies, which served as a benchmark. The analysis revealed variations in environmental footprints driven by differences in farm management practices and soil characteristics. The results highlighted that smart farms, in compliance with integrated or organic certifications, focus on reducing inputs such as agrochemicals or water consumption. However, these reductions could shift the environmental burden to other impacts, such as those related to machinery use, which remained the most critical aspect across all vineyards considered. In some smart farms, critical issues involve other aspects, such as irrigation and fertilisation. The lack of awareness about the potential environmental impacts of the adopted technical options could make smart farms more impactful than traditional farms. Interestingly, this study found that solely implementing advanced technologies could fall short of achieving ecological objectives. This study emphasises the significance of utilising LCA as a valuable tool to support farmers in making informed decisions while adopting technological strategies to achieve environmentally sustainable goals.
2024
Evaluating the environmental impacts of smart vineyards through the Life Cycle Assessment / Tascione, Valentino; Raggi, Andrea; Petti, Luigia; Manca, Gavina. - In: SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT. - ISSN 0048-9697. - 922:(2024), pp. 1-14. [10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171240]
File in questo prodotto:
Non ci sono file associati a questo prodotto.

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11388/333209
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus ND
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? ND
social impact