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Comparing the Carbon Footprint of Conventional and Organic Vineyards in Northern Italy

Author

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  • Isabella Ghiglieno

    (Agrofood Research Hub, Department of Civil Engineering, Architecture, Land, Environment and Mathematics, University of Brescia, Via Branze, 43, 25123 Brescia, Italy)

  • Anna Simonetto

    (Agrofood Research Hub, Department of Civil Engineering, Architecture, Land, Environment and Mathematics, University of Brescia, Via Branze, 43, 25123 Brescia, Italy)

  • Luca Facciano

    (Agrofood Research Hub, Department of Civil Engineering, Architecture, Land, Environment and Mathematics, University of Brescia, Via Branze, 43, 25123 Brescia, Italy)

  • Marco Tonni

    (Sata Agronomist Consultants, Piazza della Loggia 5, 25121 Brescia, Italy)

  • Pierluigi Donna

    (Sata Agronomist Consultants, Piazza della Loggia 5, 25121 Brescia, Italy)

  • Leonardo Valenti

    (Department of Agricultural and Environmental Science, University of Milan, Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milano, Italy)

  • Gianni Gilioli

    (Agrofood Research Hub, Department of Civil Engineering, Architecture, Land, Environment and Mathematics, University of Brescia, Via Branze, 43, 25123 Brescia, Italy)

Abstract

The carbon footprint is an index used to assess the impact of an activity in terms of greenhouse gas emissions. Viticulture contributes to greenhouse gas emissions due to the use of fuels, fertilizers and pesticides, and the consequent soil erosion. Organic viticulture differs from conventional viticulture, mainly because of the absence of synthetic products, the soil tillage, and the level of organic carbon in the soil. The purpose of the study was to determine the actual differences between conventional and organic vineyard management in terms of greenhouse gas emissions, comparing multiannual data from 25 wineries in northern Italy. No statistically significant differences were found between the overall mean values of conventional and organic management. In organically farmed vineyards, a higher incidence of fuel consumption was observed, while in conventionally farmed vineyards higher emissions were observed, due to the use of such products as pesticides and fertilizers. No differences were found between the two management systems in terms of emissions resulting from direct fertilizing. Further assessment of the potential sequestration of organic fertilizer would be necessary.

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:6:p:5252-:d:1098571
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Chiara Corbo & Lucrezia Lamastra & Ettore Capri, 2014. "From Environmental to Sustainability Programs: A Review of Sustainability Initiatives in the Italian Wine Sector," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 6(4), pages 1-27, April.
    2. 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.
    3. Florian Ahrens & Johann Land & Susan Krumdieck, 2022. "Decarbonization of Nitrogen Fertilizer: A Transition Engineering Desk Study for Agriculture in Germany," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-24, July.
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    2. Zixun Guo & Zhimei Gao & Wenbin Zhang, 2023. "Accounting and Decomposition of Energy Footprint: Evidence from 28 Sectors in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-24, September.
    3. Petr Bača & Vladimír Mašán & Petr Vanýsek & Patrik Burg & Tomáš Binar & Jana Burgová & Zdeněk Abrham, 2024. "Assessing the Carbon Footprint of Viticultural Production in Central European Conditions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(15), pages 1-15, July.

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