Daniele Sarri

Olive Oil Production Chain

In this chapter, Multicriteria Analysis (MCA) and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodologies are applied to investigate a number of aspects of the extra-virgin olive oil production chain. The analysis starts from the definition of a number of possible scenarios concerning all phases of the chain: olive grove characteristics, management and productivity; olive harvesting and transport to the extraction plant (logistics); extraction plant configuration and management. Scenarios are arranged in order to define different configurations of the whole chain. The MCA methodology is then applied to select the most suitable scenario arrangements, according to a number of requirements which are set in advance: main goals to be accomplished, main benefits and drawbacks, a number of evaluation criteria for scenario selection, outcomes and/or scores associated with each scenario for each evaluation criterion. Chain configurations which achieve higher scores are subsequently considered for further evaluation by means of LCA, exploiting the GEMIS software. Results in terms of CO2eq emissions and CER associated with each chain are eventually reported and discussed.

Development of a prototype of telemetry system for monitoring the spraying operation in vineyards

Abstract Modern technology and telecommunication systems enable precision field data to be acquired which improves agricultural operations management. The aim of this work was to develop and operate a prototype telemetry system suitable for winemakers to monitor the performance of their spraying operations in real-time, and to acquire useful data. The prototype telemetry system was composed of a tracking module for data acquisition, a server for remote monitoring and data storing, a GSM/GPRS/GPS module for data transmission and a GNSS for sprayer localization. Data that could be acquired were the latitude, the longitude, the speed of the sprayer, the status of the lift, the PTO, the functioning side of the sprayhead (left and right), the presence of the operator, the values of pressure at the centrifugal pump and in the sprayhead, and the flow rate. This telemetry system was tested in different vineyards to evaluate the proper functioning of all the components. Results showed that the spray pressure and the flow rate measured by the sensors of the telemetry system were similar to the theoretical values defined for the regulation of the sprayer. The estimated value of application rate, which was a number derived from the provided forward speed, was also similar to the theoretical value, indicating that the forward speed recorded by the telemetry system was accurate. The telemetry system was also useful to detect a weak point in the spraying operation management, consisting of a different application rate when the forward direction of the tractor was uphill compared with downhill.

Agricultural and Forestry Mechanization

Wood biomass for energy production, used by 50% of the world’s population, represents an important alternative to other non-renewable energy sources even in industrialized countries. The correctly planned management of wood biomass production could make it a valid alternative energy solution to traditional fossil fuels, since it is a local and widely available resource, it has an almost carbon neutral production balance and its exploitation could trigger processes of environmental and social improvement. However, efficient energy transformation that is environmentally and economically sustainable requires the realization of optimized chains in which each phase is rationally planned. This study was carried out using multicriteria analysis methodology in order to assess the suitability of using this renewable source of energy, taking into account the energy, emissions and economic factors as well as the technologies used. The study took into account the costs of cultivation, harvesting, transportation and transformation of the biomass obtained from short to medium rotation coppice, as well as from salvaged biomass chains. The methodology was applied referring to Italy, making the relevant adjustments.

Oil Palm Farming Chain

This chapter presents an example of Multicriteria analysis (MCA) application and consequent life cycle assessment (LCA). The methodologies are applied to a case in which a number of possibilities must be evaluated for installing an oil palm plantation. The example is not based on a real case but on a hypothetical one in order to show a wider range of variables. The subsequent steps are presented and discussed throughout following some realistic assumptions and a framework is suggested to the reader in order to allow him to adapt it to specific cases and needs. MCA and LCA results are discussed and compared on a methodological point of view.

Energetic Use of Biomass and Biofuels

Olive oil production is one of the most important activities of the agricultural sector in the Mediterranean region. Considering that olive-groves significantly characterise the landscape and that olive pruning requires large labour input and costs, farmers have to organize the pruning operation assuring economical sustainability. For this reason the energetic use of olive pruning has been adopted in many farms, even if the collection and treatment of the residues could imply additional costs in field operations. Therefore, in order to analyze the pros and cons of different alternatives for olive pruning management, a methodological approach able to take into account both the economical and environmental aspects must be implemented. In this chapter, 35 possible scenarios are illustrated and evaluated: based on the chosen criteria, solutions which present limited fuel consumptions, reduced transports and the biomass use in small- or medium-sized combustion plants, are preferred.

Applications of the precision viticulture techniques in the Chianti district

The diffusion of precision viticulture approach in the last decade thanks to the new achievements and developed tools, have enabled new site-specific management possibilities. The aim of this study was the evaluation of proximal surveying for monitoring and to highlight the variability within vineyards. Specifically the study shows some results of ongoing trials that are aimed to define simplified tools and protocols reliable on farms in order to exploit grape variability and reduce the cost related to pest control. In this regard, the technological innovations comparable with precision agriculture are able to provide optimal solutions in order to achieve agricultural sustainable practices. To this end in order to evaluate the usefulness of proximal sensing a ground monitoring system equipped with two types of sensors to define vineyard features i.e. the plant vegetative vigour indexes (NDVI vigor index) and the canopy volumetry was implemented. This work was conducted in three experimental Sangiovese vineyards selected in the Chianti Classico DOCG area. Results obtained through the optical and ultrasonic sensors showed the utility of such systems as tools to improve grape knowledge and vine quality achievable by selective harvest and also through the pesticide calibration on the canopy features.

General Theory of Multicriteria Analysis and Life Cycle Assessment

The agro-industrial sector presents relevant environmental pressures in terms of both consumption of non-renewable resources, emissions of greenhouse gases, by-product reuse and waste disposal. Moreover, these environmental aspects must be evaluated assuring the technical feasibility and the economical sustainability of the alternative chains. Therefore, the multicriteria analysis (MCA) implementation is useful to detect all the possible technical solutions and identify the most suitable ones in order to limit the production costs and minimise the environmental pressures. On the other hand the life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology is one of the most effective tools for carrying out the environmental analysis, even if the large variability and complexity of possible scenarios often determine a huge amount of configurations to be investigated, which require considerable computational time and resources. For this reason the methodological approach proposed in this book adopts the MCA at the very first stage as a sort of pre−filtering which should be capable of selecting the most relevant cases to be investigated by means of LCA.