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Sustainable Viticulture: First Determination of the Environmental Footprint of Grapes

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  • Vassilis Litskas

    (Department of Agricultural Sciences, Biotechnology and Food Science, Cyprus University of Technology, 30 Arch. Kyprianos Str., 3036 Limassol, Cyprus
    School of Pure and Applied Sciences, Open University of Cyprus, 33, Yiannou Kranidioti Avenue, 2220 Latsia, Cyprus
    Sustainability Metrics, Valtetsiou 4, 2416 Nicosia, Cyprus
    http://www.sustainabilitycy.com/ .)

  • Athanasia Mandoulaki

    (Department of Agricultural Sciences, Biotechnology and Food Science, Cyprus University of Technology, 30 Arch. Kyprianos Str., 3036 Limassol, Cyprus)

  • Ioannis N. Vogiatzakis

    (School of Pure and Applied Sciences, Open University of Cyprus, 33, Yiannou Kranidioti Avenue, 2220 Latsia, Cyprus)

  • Nikolaos Tzortzakis

    (Department of Agricultural Sciences, Biotechnology and Food Science, Cyprus University of Technology, 30 Arch. Kyprianos Str., 3036 Limassol, Cyprus)

  • Menelaos Stavrinides

    (Department of Agricultural Sciences, Biotechnology and Food Science, Cyprus University of Technology, 30 Arch. Kyprianos Str., 3036 Limassol, Cyprus)

Abstract

We present for the first time the environmental footprint (EF) of grapes following the methodology proposed by the EU and life cycle assessment (LCA). We used data from three different production systems, conventional high- or low-input and organic from vineyards on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus. The life cycle inventory (LCI) data were retrieved from the recently released AGRIBALYSE database, and the EF was determined with the Open LCA software. The system boundary was from “cradle to winery door” and the functional unit was 1 ton of grapes delivered to the winery. Organic grape production had the lowest values for most of the 16 EF impact categories. Machinery, fuel, and sulfur production and use were identified as EF hotspots for organic grapes. Fertilizer production and use were identified as EF hotspots for high-input grape production. The EF impact category values for low-input grapes showed similarities with organic production. Future research needs to enrich the LCI databases with data more applicable to the methods and inputs applied in Mediterranean agriculture.

Suggested Citation

  • Vassilis Litskas & Athanasia Mandoulaki & Ioannis N. Vogiatzakis & Nikolaos Tzortzakis & Menelaos Stavrinides, 2020. "Sustainable Viticulture: First Determination of the Environmental Footprint of Grapes," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(21), pages 1-18, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:21:p:8812-:d:433899
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Michail Tsangas & Ifigeneia Gavriel & Maria Doula & Flouris Xeni & Antonis A. Zorpas, 2020. "Life Cycle Analysis in the Framework of Agricultural Strategic Development Planning in the Balkan Region," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-15, February.
    2. Vanessa Bach & Annekatrin Lehmann & Marcel Görmer & Matthias Finkbeiner, 2018. "Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) Pilot Phase—Comparability over Flexibility?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-18, August.
    3. Sara Rinaldi & Emanuele Bonamente & Flavio Scrucca & Maria Cleofe Merico & Francesco Asdrubali & Franco Cotana, 2016. "Water and Carbon Footprint of Wine: Methodology Review and Application to a Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(7), pages 1-17, July.
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    3. Isabella Ghiglieno & Anna Simonetto & Luca Facciano & Marco Tonni & Pierluigi Donna & Leonardo Valenti & Gianni Gilioli, 2023. "Comparing the Carbon Footprint of Conventional and Organic Vineyards in Northern Italy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-14, March.
    4. Ioannidou, Sotiroula C. & Litskas, Vassilis D. & Stavrinides, Menelaos C. & Vogiatzakis, Ioannis N., 2022. "Linking management practices and soil properties to Ecosystem Services in Mediterranean mixed orchards," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 53(C).
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