A comparative life cycle assessment of the sugarcane value chain in the province of Tucumán (Argentina) considering different technology levels
Purpose: The purpose of this work is to quantify the environmental impact of the sugarcane industry in Tucumán (Argentina) through the life cycle analysis (LCA). The distinctive feature is the consideration of different technology levels (TLs) in the agricultural stage: high (HTL), medium (MTL), and...
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| Formato: | Artículo |
| Lenguaje: | Inglés |
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Springer
2020
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| Acceso en línea: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12123/6807 https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11367-016-1047-3 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11367-016-1047-3 |
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| author | Nishihara Hun, Andrea Lorena Mele, Fernando Daniel Perez, Gonzalo Antonio |
| author_browse | Mele, Fernando Daniel Nishihara Hun, Andrea Lorena Perez, Gonzalo Antonio |
| author_facet | Nishihara Hun, Andrea Lorena Mele, Fernando Daniel Perez, Gonzalo Antonio |
| author_sort | Nishihara Hun, Andrea Lorena |
| collection | INTA Digital |
| description | Purpose: The purpose of this work is to quantify the environmental impact of the sugarcane industry in Tucumán (Argentina) through the life cycle analysis (LCA). The distinctive feature is the consideration of different technology levels (TLs) in the agricultural stage: high (HTL), medium (MTL), and low (LTL).
Methods: The scope of the study covers the agricultural and industrial stages through a “from cradle to gate” approach (from sugarcane cultivation until production of finished products: sugar and alcohol). The system is divided into Agriculture, Sugar Factory, and Distillery. Data used for the inventory are mainly provided by local experts, sugarcane growers, and processing companies. The characteristics of each TL are taken from a regional classification. For the impact assessment, the CML 2001 model (nine impact categories) is used.
Results and discussion: Regardless of the TL, in most of the impact categories, an important contribution attributable to the use of synthetic agrochemicals is evident. As for the comparison among TLs, the ethanol produced with HTL has less impact values than the ones produced with MTL and LTL in seven categories. These results can be mainly explained by the better cultural yields obtained with HTL, and to the fact that sugarcane is not burnt before harvesting in HTL as it is in MTL and LTL.
Conclusions: This study explores the implications of using different TLs for the agricultural tasks on the sugarcane supply chain in Tucumán, which is characterized by a vertically nonintegrated productive scheme. If practices associated to HTL are implemented, a reduction of the environmental impact is observed in most categories. It is necessary to compare these results with economic and social implications to ensure sustainability of the sugarcane value chain. |
| format | Artículo |
| id | INTA6807 |
| institution | Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA -Argentina) |
| language | Inglés |
| publishDate | 2020 |
| publishDateRange | 2020 |
| publishDateSort | 2020 |
| publisher | Springer |
| publisherStr | Springer |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | INTA68072020-02-20T11:43:43Z A comparative life cycle assessment of the sugarcane value chain in the province of Tucumán (Argentina) considering different technology levels Nishihara Hun, Andrea Lorena Mele, Fernando Daniel Perez, Gonzalo Antonio Caña de Azúcar Análisis del Ciclo de Duración Cadenas de Valor Evaluación Tecnología Sugarcane Life Cycle Analysis Value Chains Assessment Technology Tucumán, Argentina Purpose: The purpose of this work is to quantify the environmental impact of the sugarcane industry in Tucumán (Argentina) through the life cycle analysis (LCA). The distinctive feature is the consideration of different technology levels (TLs) in the agricultural stage: high (HTL), medium (MTL), and low (LTL). Methods: The scope of the study covers the agricultural and industrial stages through a “from cradle to gate” approach (from sugarcane cultivation until production of finished products: sugar and alcohol). The system is divided into Agriculture, Sugar Factory, and Distillery. Data used for the inventory are mainly provided by local experts, sugarcane growers, and processing companies. The characteristics of each TL are taken from a regional classification. For the impact assessment, the CML 2001 model (nine impact categories) is used. Results and discussion: Regardless of the TL, in most of the impact categories, an important contribution attributable to the use of synthetic agrochemicals is evident. As for the comparison among TLs, the ethanol produced with HTL has less impact values than the ones produced with MTL and LTL in seven categories. These results can be mainly explained by the better cultural yields obtained with HTL, and to the fact that sugarcane is not burnt before harvesting in HTL as it is in MTL and LTL. Conclusions: This study explores the implications of using different TLs for the agricultural tasks on the sugarcane supply chain in Tucumán, which is characterized by a vertically nonintegrated productive scheme. If practices associated to HTL are implemented, a reduction of the environmental impact is observed in most categories. It is necessary to compare these results with economic and social implications to ensure sustainability of the sugarcane value chain. EEA Famaillá Fil: Nishihara Hun, Andrea Lorena. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Departamento de Ingeniería de Procesos y Gestión Industrial; Argentina Fil: Mele, Fernando Daniel. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Departamento de Ingeniería de Procesos y Gestión Industrial; Argentina Fil: Perez, Gonzalo Antonio. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Famaillá; Argentina. 2020-02-20T11:41:26Z 2020-02-20T11:41:26Z 2017 info:ar-repo/semantics/artículo info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12123/6807 https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11367-016-1047-3 0948-3349 1614-7502 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11367-016-1047-3 eng info:eu-repo/semantics/restrictedAccess application/pdf Springer The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment 22 : 502–515 (2017) |
| spellingShingle | Caña de Azúcar Análisis del Ciclo de Duración Cadenas de Valor Evaluación Tecnología Sugarcane Life Cycle Analysis Value Chains Assessment Technology Tucumán, Argentina Nishihara Hun, Andrea Lorena Mele, Fernando Daniel Perez, Gonzalo Antonio A comparative life cycle assessment of the sugarcane value chain in the province of Tucumán (Argentina) considering different technology levels |
| title | A comparative life cycle assessment of the sugarcane value chain in the province of Tucumán (Argentina) considering different technology levels |
| title_full | A comparative life cycle assessment of the sugarcane value chain in the province of Tucumán (Argentina) considering different technology levels |
| title_fullStr | A comparative life cycle assessment of the sugarcane value chain in the province of Tucumán (Argentina) considering different technology levels |
| title_full_unstemmed | A comparative life cycle assessment of the sugarcane value chain in the province of Tucumán (Argentina) considering different technology levels |
| title_short | A comparative life cycle assessment of the sugarcane value chain in the province of Tucumán (Argentina) considering different technology levels |
| title_sort | comparative life cycle assessment of the sugarcane value chain in the province of tucuman argentina considering different technology levels |
| topic | Caña de Azúcar Análisis del Ciclo de Duración Cadenas de Valor Evaluación Tecnología Sugarcane Life Cycle Analysis Value Chains Assessment Technology Tucumán, Argentina |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12123/6807 https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11367-016-1047-3 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11367-016-1047-3 |
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