Life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions of portuguese olive oil

• Author(s): Figueiredo, F. ; Coroama, V.C. ; Ramos, A.S. ; Almeida, A. ; Ramalhosa, E. ; Castanheira, E.G. ; Peres, M.F. ; Carneiro, J.P. ; Pereira, J.A. ; Feliciano, M. ; Gomes, P. ; Marques, P. ; Freire, F.
• Date: 2013
• Persistent ID: http://hdl.handle.net/10400.11/2591
• Origin: Repositório Científico do Instituto Politécnico de Castelo Branco
• Subject(s): Carbon footprint; Olive plantations; Environmental impact; Extraction; Greenhouse gas; Life-cycle assessment
• Document Type: Conference Object
• Language: English

Description

The main goal of this paper was to assess the greenhouse gas (GHG) intensity of olive oil production in Portugal. A life-cycle model and inventory were implemented for the entire production process, including a comprehensive analysis of olive cultivation, olive oil extraction, packaging, and distribution. Data originates from five differently-sized Portuguese olive growers and from a total of six olive oil mills, representing the three extraction processes in use: three-phase extraction, two-phase extraction, and traditional pressing. The results show that the GHG intensity lies in the range 1.8-8.2 kg CO2eq/liter and that the main contributors were fertilizers (production and field emissions). Efficient use of fertilizers thus seems to be a key factor for mitigating the GHG intensity of olive oil production.