Tracing the root of the evil in the carbon footprint of tomato production: Implications for optimization process and policy formulation
While agriculture's role in carbon emissions has been studied broadly, there is a notable lack of disaggregated studies that focus on the carbon footprint of specific crops, such as tomatoes. This is further exacerbated by the fact that tomatoes are a staple food globally, and the ca...
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| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Bologna University press
2025-06-01
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| Series: | New Medit |
| Online Access: | https://newmedit.ciheam.org/2025/06/10/tracing-the-root-of-the-evil-in-the-carbon-footprint-of-tomato-production-implications-for-optimization-process-and-policy-formulation/ |
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| Summary: | While agriculture's role in carbon emissions has been studied broadly, there is a
notable lack of disaggregated studies that focus on the carbon footprint of specific
crops, such as tomatoes. This is further exacerbated by the fact that tomatoes are a
staple food globally, and the carbon emissions of their production could vary
significantly across different cultivation methods, regions, and supply chains. This
literature gap limits our understanding of where emissions originate and where they
can be mitigated. In this context, the aim of this study is to provide a comprehensive
evaluation of the carbon footprint in tomato production in Greece by means of a Life
Cycle Assessment. Results indicate that the energy required to produce the tomato is
the factor that has the greatest environmental impact. The fertilizers and the materials
used to package the product also affect significantly the overall environmental impact.
Tomatoes are an essential component of global food systems. Thus, even marginal
improvements in the carbon efficiency of tomato production could yield significant
environmental benefits, and a detailed carbon footprint analysis could influence policy
and practice. |
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| ISSN: | 2611-1128 |