LCA Food 2012 in Saint Malo, France! - Manifestations et colloques ...

GROUP 4, SESSION B: CROP PRODUCTION SYSTEMS 8 th Int. Conference on LCA in the
Agri-Food Sector, 1-4 Oct 2012
113. Developing innovative technical agronomical practices in
sunflower cultivation for industrial applications: experience from
central Italy
Francesco Razza 1,* , Francesco Degli Innocenti 2 , Michele Falce 2 , Luciano Concezzi 3 , Andrea Massoli 3
1 Novamont, Piazz.le Donegani 4, 05100 Terni – Italy, 2 Novamont, Via G. Fauser 8, 28100 Novara - Italy, 3
3A - Parco Tecnologico Agroalimentare dell’Umbria, Frazione Pantalla, 06059 Todi (Terni) – Italy, Corresponding
author. E-mail: francesco.razza@novamont.com
At worldwide level biomass is mostly exploited for producing materials rather than for energy use. Within
the PSR Umbria project (Piano per lo Sviluppo Rurale - Cooperazione per lo sviluppo dei nuovi prodotti,
processi e tecnologie nei settori agricolo e alimentare e in quello forestale) a biodegradable hydraulic lubricant
was developed starting from sunflower oil with high oleic acid content. Such a lubricant, functionally
equivalent to the fossil-based one, is characterised by a lower persistence in the environment since it is biodegradable.
The PSR project was focused also on the development of innovative (low impact) technical
agronomical practices for sunflower cultivation. Basically two high oleic sunflower cultivars (i.e. VarA and
VarB) have been selected and tested with three different agronomical practices: “normal input” (i.e. traditional
cultivation with a normal input of fertilisers and pesticides), “low input” (i.e. fertilisers were reduced
by 50%) and “zero input” (i.e. no fertilisers applied but green manure before sunflower sawing). The lower
input practices have been tested because the inputs to the agricultural phase (e.g. fertilisers, pesticides etc.)
are generally higher than the actual needs of the crop as confirmed by experimental data reported in Table 1,
where it is interesting to notice that the crop yield for the “low input” and “zero input” is equivalent or even
higher compared to the “normal input”. In reference to the ”zero input”, it is important to point out that, according
to previous filed trials performed elsewhere, it was observed that green manure practice in sunflower
cultivation, provides the right amount of nutrients (e.g. nitrogen) without generating a depletion of them,in
the soil, rather they increase. Further the crop yield remain constant and similar to that generally obtained in
a “normal input” practice also in the long run but with the advantage that the green manure practice protects
the soil from erosion as well.
These practices have been assessed by LCA analysis where the functional unit was defined as the production
of 1 kg of oleic acid. Also the oil cake (the co-product of mechanical oil extraction) uses (i.e. animal feed or
energy utilisation) have been included in the analysis. LCIA results show that the highest benefits were
reached in the “zero input” where the oil cake is used for energy purposes.
Basically it has been demonstrated that the right match between the sunflower cultivar, the geographic area,
the integrated production of sunflower oil, contribute to reduce loads to the environment making the whole
agricultural system particularly efficient.
References
Raschka, A., Carus, M.,2012. Industrial material use of biomass. Basic data for Germany, Europe and the
world. Nova-Institute GmbH Chemiepark Knapsack, Industriestrasse, Hurth (Germany).
Laureti D., Pieri S., 1999. Fertilizzazione Biologica del Girasole. L’informatore Agrario, supplemento al
n.10, 20-23. Istituto Sperimentale per Colture Industriali di Bologna – Sezione di Osimo (Ancona)
Laureti D., Pieri S., 2001. Sovescio di leguminose nella fertilizzazione del girasole. L’informatore Agrario,
n.30. Istituto Sperimentale per Colture Industriali di Bologna – Sezione operativa periferica di Osimo
(Ancona)
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