{"id":15321,"date":"2023-09-14T15:09:40","date_gmt":"2023-09-14T12:09:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rexusproject.eu\/?p=15321"},"modified":"2023-09-14T15:28:28","modified_gmt":"2023-09-14T12:28:28","slug":"measuring-agricultural-carbon-footprint","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rexusproject.eu\/el\/measuring-agricultural-carbon-footprint\/","title":{"rendered":"\u039c\u03ad\u03c4\u03c1\u03b7\u03c3\u03b7 \u03c4\u03bf\u03c5 \u03b1\u03b3\u03c1\u03bf\u03c4\u03b9\u03ba\u03bf\u03cd \u03b1\u03c0\u03bf\u03c4\u03c5\u03c0\u03ce\u03bc\u03b1\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2 \u03ac\u03bd\u03b8\u03c1\u03b1\u03ba\u03b1: \u03ad\u03bd\u03b1 \u03b2\u03b1\u03c3\u03b9\u03ba\u03cc \u03b2\u03ae\u03bc\u03b1 \u03b3\u03b9\u03b1 \u03c4\u03bf \u03c3\u03c7\u03b5\u03b4\u03b9\u03b1\u03c3\u03bc\u03cc \u03b2\u03b9\u03ce\u03c3\u03b9\u03bc\u03c9\u03bd \u03c3\u03c5\u03c3\u03c4\u03b7\u03bc\u03ac\u03c4\u03c9\u03bd WEFE Nexus"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In all the Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystems-Climate Nexus systems analysed by the Horizon 2020 REXUS project, <\/strong>agriculture plays a key role. Understanding the energy requirements of agriculture in particular is key for long-term planning for climate change mitigation and resilience. REXUS partner Circe<\/a><\/span> has developed a methodology to assess the energy needs and greenhouse gas emissions for different crops <\/strong>in the REXUS pilots, providing data that policymakers can use to effectively align agricultural and energy policies<\/strong>, such as promoting smart use of fertilisers, energy-efficient irrigation systems, encouraging renewable energy use in agriculture, and supporting less intensive farming practices through appropriate incentives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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GWP-Med<\/a>, <\/strong>Rexus Communication & Dissemination leader, interviewed Andrea Carrascosa Flores <\/strong>(left) and Carlota Garc\u00eda Diaz <\/strong>(right), Technical Researchers with Circe<\/a>.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q. Can you briefly explain what is \u2018carbon footprint\u2019 and \u2018carbon accounting\u2019?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A.<\/strong> In the context of the REXUS project, carbon accounting<\/strong> is the process which measures and tracks the total emissions<\/strong> generated throughout the life cycle of a certain amount of crops, produced in a certain time period[1]<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The carbon footprint<\/strong>, on the other hand, shows the total emissions per unit of crop. In the context of REXUS, this indicator is defined as \u201ca unified measure of the total amount of greenhouse gas emissions generated in the life cycle of one kilogram of crop\u201d[2]<\/a>, expressed in CO2<\/sub> equivalents per kilogram of crop. While some methods tend to oversimplify, we have chosen the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) method as a useful tool which presents a system-level perspective, integrating environmental impacts resulting not only from carbon dioxide emissions, but also from other greenhouse gas missions such as nitrous oxides and sulphur dioxide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Q. How are you developing and applying this methodology in the REXUS project?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A.<\/strong> LCA is a standardized methodology which assesses potential environmental impacts along the life cycle of a product (in this case, a crop such as sugarcane), starting with the extraction and processing of the raw materials, manufacturing, operation phase and end-of-life. The following diagram shows the different boundaries considered for the crops in this analysis, giving the example of sugarcane; all material and energy considered from the construction of the agricultural system, passing through its use phase and ending with the cultivation of the crop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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In this way, we are able to identify<\/strong> \u201chotpots\u201d in the agricultural system in terms of the impacts of carbon and energy emissions produced<\/strong> due to the use of fertilizers, pesticides, machinery, irrigation and other inputs that comprise the operation phase of crop production.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q. Did you find important differences in carbon footprint between crops?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A.<\/strong> The LCA methodology was applied to the J\u00facar River Basin District<\/strong>, one of the pilot areas in REXUS. The carbon footprint of the four most representative crops in the area; olive, orange, wheat and maize, was calculated. The results showed that stone-fruits and citrus fruits such as olives and oranges have a lower carbon footprint than herbaceous crops such as wheat and maize<\/strong>. This is not only due to lower fertiliser and machinery use, but also their land practices cause carbon sequestration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q. Who is information useful to and how can it lead to better decisions?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A. <\/strong>Policy makers, natural resource managers and farmers can use this information for better decision making. For example, knowning that carbon footprint of the main crops in the area is mainly contributed to by the production and transport of the fertilizers used, as well as the machinery employed, can make the the more efficient use of fertilizers a priority. Also, knowing that different land use and crop management techniques reduce the carbon footprint can encourage farmers to implement better available techniques. But even setting environmental impacts aside, knowing the impacts of machinery use in crop production can help farmers prepare for potential price increases in fuels such as petroleum products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Q. Can this work help us better assess and prepare for \u2018external shocks\u2019 like last year\u2019s hike in energy prices?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A. <\/strong>On the one hand, this work helps us understand how dependent we are on non renewable resources and fossil fuels<\/strong> in the use of machinery in crop production. On the other hand, it also allows us to understand the different carbon footprints of the energy use mix <\/strong> in the agricultural sector of each pilot area, as the methodology was not only applied to crops but also to energy systems. This will make it easier to meet emissions reductions targets, while additionally, it will help prepare for energy spikes and thus ensure a stable energy supply, including through enabling a transition to clean energy sources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q. How to do you think this data can be integrated into the broader WEFE Nexus sustainability vision developed by REXUS stakeholders?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A.<\/strong> Analysing the carbon footprint sheds important light into overall Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystems Nexus dynamics. For example, water is necessary to produce food and energy in hydroelectric systems. Energy is necessary to irrigate crops and use machinery. Thus, a change in one of them can affect the other two. Our work analyses and quantifies the key role that energy plays role in all stages of the agricultural cycle, from soil preparation and irrigation to the harvest and fertiliser production. The broader vision developed in REXUS can integrate the findings of our study in different ways. For instance, different scenarios can be applied to our model to understand how the carbon footprint would change.<\/strong> Right now we are in the phase of implementing the following scenarios:<\/p>\n\n\n\n