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Is Manila Clam Farming Environmentally Sustainable? A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) Approach Applied to an Italian Ruditapes philippinarum Hatchery

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Listed:
  • Arianna Martini

    (Consiglio per la Ricerca in Agricoltura e l’Analisi dell’Economia Agraria, Centro di Ricerca Zootecnia e Acquacoltura, Via Salaria 31, 00015 Monterotondo, Roma, Italy)

  • Leonardo Aguiari

    (Naturedulis S.r.l., Piazzale Leo Scarpa 45, 44020 Goro, Ferrara, Italy)

  • Fabrizio Capoccioni

    (Consiglio per la Ricerca in Agricoltura e l’Analisi dell’Economia Agraria, Centro di Ricerca Zootecnia e Acquacoltura, Via Salaria 31, 00015 Monterotondo, Roma, Italy)

  • Marco Martinoli

    (Consiglio per la Ricerca in Agricoltura e l’Analisi dell’Economia Agraria, Centro di Ricerca Zootecnia e Acquacoltura, Via Salaria 31, 00015 Monterotondo, Roma, Italy)

  • Riccardo Napolitano

    (Consiglio per la Ricerca in Agricoltura e l’Analisi dell’Economia Agraria, Centro di Ricerca Zootecnia e Acquacoltura, Via Salaria 31, 00015 Monterotondo, Roma, Italy)

  • Giacomo Pirlo

    (Consiglio per la Ricerca in Agricoltura e l’Analisi dell’Economia Agraria, Centro di Ricerca Zootecnia e Acquacoltura, Via Antonio Lombardo 11, 26900 Lodi, Lodi, Italy)

  • Nicolò Tonachella

    (Consiglio per la Ricerca in Agricoltura e l’Analisi dell’Economia Agraria, Centro di Ricerca Zootecnia e Acquacoltura, Via Salaria 31, 00015 Monterotondo, Roma, Italy)

  • Domitilla Pulcini

    (Consiglio per la Ricerca in Agricoltura e l’Analisi dell’Economia Agraria, Centro di Ricerca Zootecnia e Acquacoltura, Via Salaria 31, 00015 Monterotondo, Roma, Italy)

Abstract

Italy supplies approximately 96% of EU-farmed Manila clams. Following a reduction in wild seed availability, farmers started to depend on hatchery-produced seed, mainly imported from other countries. Indeed, only one hatchery is currently operating in Italy. This study quantifies the environmental impacts of seed production in this Italian hatchery facility to inform future planning for improving the sustainability of the supply chain. The environmental performance of the Manila clam hatchery was evaluated using the Life Cycle Assessment methodology. A cradle-to-gate analysis was performed, covering the following production phases: (1) microalgae production, (2) broodstock maintenance and conditioning, and (3) larval rearing until marketable size. The functional unit adopted was 1 kg of live clam seed. The main driver of the environmental impacts was electricity consumption, contributing over 80% for all impact categories. Other inputs showed minor contributions to different impact categories, including liquid oxygen, water pumps, and high-density polyethylene. This study highlights that the environmental burden associated with seed production could be reduced by switching to alternative technologies to meet energy needs, such as investments in photovoltaic and wind energy production systems.

Suggested Citation

  • Arianna Martini & Leonardo Aguiari & Fabrizio Capoccioni & Marco Martinoli & Riccardo Napolitano & Giacomo Pirlo & Nicolò Tonachella & Domitilla Pulcini, 2023. "Is Manila Clam Farming Environmentally Sustainable? A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) Approach Applied to an Italian Ruditapes philippinarum Hatchery," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-9, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:4:p:3237-:d:1064147
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jessica A. Gephart & Patrik J. G. Henriksson & Robert W. R. Parker & Alon Shepon & Kelvin D. Gorospe & Kristina Bergman & Gidon Eshel & Christopher D. Golden & Benjamin S. Halpern & Sara Hornborg & Ma, 2021. "Environmental performance of blue foods," Nature, Nature, vol. 597(7876), pages 360-365, September.
    2. Edoardo Turolla & Giuseppe Castaldelli & Elisa Anna Fano & Elena Tamburini, 2020. "Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) Proves that Manila Clam Farming ( Ruditapes Philippinarum ) is a Fully Sustainable Aquaculture Practice and a Carbon Sink," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(13), pages 1-12, June.
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