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Global Warming Potential of Organic Strawberry Production under Unheated High Tunnels in Kentucky, USA

Author

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  • Sean Clark

    (Department of Agriculture & Natural Resources, Berea College, Berea, KY 40404, USA)

  • Seyed Hashem Mousavi-Avval

    (USDA Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, WI 53726, USA
    Department of Biological Systems Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA)

Abstract

The global warming potential (GWP) of organic strawberries ( Fragaria × ananassa ) grown under high tunnels in Kentucky, USA, was assessed using life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology. The site, part of the Berea College Farm, had been under organic crop management for two decades. The GWP was calculated as 0.57 kg CO 2 -eq per kg of strawberries with the combined impact of the aluminum and plastic manufacturing accounting for 44% of the total and the direct production activities, including labor, accounting for another 28%. The average yields of 18,990 kg/ha of fresh fruit over the two years (2020–2021) were comparable to those typically reported in the southeastern USA for conventional production, but opportunities to increase strawberry yields in high tunnels without increasing inputs should be explored to reduce the GWP. Future research should also measure the GWP of production in controlled-environment agriculture (CEA) systems, particularly plant factories with artificial lighting (PFALs), to compare the greenhouse gas emissions of strawberries grown with these technologies to those produced using the simple, high-tunnel method.

Suggested Citation

  • Sean Clark & Seyed Hashem Mousavi-Avval, 2022. "Global Warming Potential of Organic Strawberry Production under Unheated High Tunnels in Kentucky, USA," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-10, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:3:p:1778-:d:741938
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Leach, Allison M. & Emery, Kyle A. & Gephart, Jessica & Davis, Kyle F. & Erisman, Jan Willem & Leip, Adrian & Pace, Michael L. & D’Odorico, Paolo & Carr, Joel & Noll, Laura Cattell & Castner, Elizabet, 2016. "Environmental impact food labels combining carbon, nitrogen, and water footprints," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 213-223.
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    Cited by:

    1. Maria Pergola & Angela Maffia & Giuseppe Carlucci & Alessandro Persiani & Assunta Maria Palese & Massimo Zaccardelli & Gessica Altieri & Giuseppe Celano, 2023. "An Environmental and Economic Analysis of Strawberry Production in Southern Italy," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-19, August.

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