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Long-Term Water Footprint Assessment in a Rainfed Olive Tree Grove in the Umbria Region, Italy

Author

Listed:
  • Luca Rossi

    (Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, via Borgo XX Giugno, 74, 06121 Perugia, Italy
    These authors contributed equally to the work.)

  • Luca Regni

    (Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, via Borgo XX Giugno, 74, 06121 Perugia, Italy
    These authors contributed equally to the work.)

  • Sara Rinaldi

    (Department of Engineering, University of Perugia, via G. Duranti 67, 06121 Perugia, Italy)

  • Paolo Sdringola

    (ENEA Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development—Casaccia Research Centre, via Anguillarese 301, 00123 S. Maria di Galeria, Rome, Italy)

  • Roberto Calisti

    (Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, via Borgo XX Giugno, 74, 06121 Perugia, Italy)

  • Antonio Brunori

    (Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, via Borgo XX Giugno, 74, 06121 Perugia, Italy)

  • Francesca Dini

    (Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, via Borgo XX Giugno, 74, 06121 Perugia, Italy)

  • Primo Proietti

    (Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, via Borgo XX Giugno, 74, 06121 Perugia, Italy)

Abstract

Life Cycle Assessment (the systematic analysis of the environmental impact of products during their entire life cycle), Carbon Footprint and Water Footprint assessments play an important role in decision-making processes. These assessments can help guide land management decisions and will likely play a larger role in the future, especially in natural areas with high biodiversity. Agriculture is a substantial consumer of fresh water, so it is important to identify causes and possible solutions to optimize agricultural water use. Water footprint assessments consider water consumption from several points of view and aid in reaching Sustainable Development Goals. Olive trees are a widespread agricultural crop growing in the Mediterranean Basin and are particularly important in the Umbria region in Italy. This paper estimates the water footprint impact related to the production of 1 kg of olives in a rainfed olive orchard managed using low environmental impact techniques. Eleven years of data collection (meteorological data, olives yield data, processes data) are analyzed for typical rural conditions. The results show that local management techniques have lower water requirements than standard international usages. These results can be used to improve and to further explore agricultural water use.

Suggested Citation

  • Luca Rossi & Luca Regni & Sara Rinaldi & Paolo Sdringola & Roberto Calisti & Antonio Brunori & Francesca Dini & Primo Proietti, 2019. "Long-Term Water Footprint Assessment in a Rainfed Olive Tree Grove in the Umbria Region, Italy," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 10(1), pages 1-11, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:10:y:2019:i:1:p:8-:d:302841
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Proietti, Stefania & Sdringola, Paolo & Desideri, Umberto & Zepparelli, Francesco & Brunori, Antonio & Ilarioni, Luana & Nasini, Luigi & Regni, Luca & Proietti, Primo, 2014. "Carbon footprint of an olive tree grove," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 127(C), pages 115-124.
    2. Vera Amicarelli & Giovanni Lagioia & Teodoro Gallucci & Vesselina Dimitrova, 2011. "The water footprint as an indicator for managing water resources: the case of Italian olive oil," International Journal of Sustainable Economy, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 3(4), pages 425-439.
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