Title:
Advances in Bi-Directional Method for Land Allocation of Energy Crops
Author(s):
Di Virgilio, N., Fazio, S., Battistel, E., Monti, A.
Document(s):
Paper
Abstract:
The purpose of this work was to set up a new method to optimize land allocation of energy crops. The approach take into account land vulnerability to the impacts of crop production chains. The present study is the advance of the work presented by Di Virgilio et al. (2010) in the last EU-Biomass Conference. Whereas in the first presentation we included only one impact category (eutrophication), this time we propose a method to assemble two impact categories (eutrophication plus human toxicity). Impact categories were estimated through LCA procedures, while land vulnerabilities to these categories were assessed using geographic information tools (GIS). Unlike the eutrophication only, adding the human toxicity resulted in a significant different allocation of energy crops. Rapeseed, wheat, sunflower and sorghum showed similar environmental risks, while giant reed and switchgrass showed the lowest environmental risks. Maize confirmed the most threatening crop thus to be allocated in the lowest vulnerability lands. Reasonably, food and feed crops must be prioritizing on energy crops, nonetheless the remarkable environmental benefits provided by energy crops should be taken into great account in rethinking a land allocation of all crops towards maximizing farmers and environmental gains.
Keywords:
energy crops, geographical information system (GIS), land use, life cycle assessment (LCA), environmental
Topic:
Biomass Policies, Markets and Sustainability
Subtopic:
Methods for life cycle analysis and examples
Event:
19th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition
Session:
OC9.1
Pages:
2393 - 2397
ISBN-13:
978-88-89407-55-4
ISBN-10:
88-89407-55-7
Paper DOI:
10.5071/19thEUBCE2011-OC9.1
Price:
FREE
