ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEM ANALYSIS FOR HORTICULTURAL CROP PRODUCTION

In this paper a simplified Life Cycle Assessment for the evaluation of environmental impacts of horticultural production systems is presented. Two production systems with different production intensities (outdoor cropping, protected cultivation in a greenhouse) have been investigated with respect to the environmental impact associated with these production systems. In the open field production system the transport processes on-field and field-to-farm are contributing most to the environmental impact. In closed greenhouse production systems the lighting and heating processes are dominating the environmental impact. The system analysis performed in this study allows for the identification of those process steps in horticultural production that are major contributors to environmental impact. Therefore, the results can help the growers to improve the environmental performance of their production system.