The Eco-Efficiency of Castor Supply Chain: A Greek Case Study
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 inp...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-02-01
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| Series: | Agriculture |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/12/2/206 |
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| author | Luigi Pari Efthymia Alexopoulou Walter Stefanoni Francesco Latterini Chris Cavalaris Nadia Palmieri |
| author_facet | Luigi Pari Efthymia Alexopoulou Walter Stefanoni Francesco Latterini Chris Cavalaris Nadia Palmieri |
| author_sort | Luigi Pari |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 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. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T22:53:12Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5cb903bd10d14dcabcc7c541e7898a36 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-0472 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T22:53:12Z |
| publishDate | 2022-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Agriculture |
| spelling | doaj.art-5cb903bd10d14dcabcc7c541e7898a362023-11-23T18:16:22ZengMDPI AGAgriculture2077-04722022-02-0112220610.3390/agriculture12020206The Eco-Efficiency of Castor Supply Chain: A Greek Case StudyLuigi Pari0Efthymia Alexopoulou1Walter Stefanoni2Francesco Latterini3Chris Cavalaris4Nadia Palmieri5CREA Research Centre for Engineering and Agro-Food Processing, Via della Pascolare, 16, Monterotondo, 00015 Rome, ItalyEnergy Crops Unit, Biomass Department, Centre for Renewable Energy Sources and Saving (CRES), 19th km Marathonos Ave, 19009 Pikermi Attiki, GreeceCREA Research Centre for Engineering and Agro-Food Processing, Via della Pascolare, 16, Monterotondo, 00015 Rome, ItalyCREA Research Centre for Engineering and Agro-Food Processing, Via della Pascolare, 16, Monterotondo, 00015 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Agriculture Crop Production and Rural Environment, University of Thessaly, 38446 Volos, GreeceCREA Research Centre for Engineering and Agro-Food Processing, Via della Pascolare, 16, Monterotondo, 00015 Rome, ItalyCastor 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.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/12/2/206bioeconomycastor oilindustrial vegetable sustainabilitylife cycle assessment (LCA)life cycle costing (LCC)<i>Ricinus communis</i> L. |
| spellingShingle | Luigi Pari Efthymia Alexopoulou Walter Stefanoni Francesco Latterini Chris Cavalaris Nadia Palmieri The Eco-Efficiency of Castor Supply Chain: A Greek Case Study Agriculture bioeconomy castor oil industrial vegetable sustainability life cycle assessment (LCA) life cycle costing (LCC) <i>Ricinus communis</i> L. |
| title | The Eco-Efficiency of Castor Supply Chain: A Greek Case Study |
| title_full | The Eco-Efficiency of Castor Supply Chain: A Greek Case Study |
| title_fullStr | The Eco-Efficiency of Castor Supply Chain: A Greek Case Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Eco-Efficiency of Castor Supply Chain: A Greek Case Study |
| title_short | The Eco-Efficiency of Castor Supply Chain: A Greek Case Study |
| title_sort | eco efficiency of castor supply chain a greek case study |
| topic | bioeconomy castor oil industrial vegetable sustainability life cycle assessment (LCA) life cycle costing (LCC) <i>Ricinus communis</i> L. |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/12/2/206 |
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