Articles
The environmental sustainability of hazelnut cultivation in Italy
Article number
1379_75
Pages
517 – 522
Language
English
Abstract
The environmental impact of anthropic activities has gained considerable attention in different sectors of society.
Agricultural activity plays a relevant role, both for its economic function and its role in safeguarding the environment and natural resources.
This study refers to the meaning of sustainability adopted in the Ecological Economics paradigm, which is based on the strict preservation of natural capital.
The objectives of the study were: i) to assess the environmental sustainability of hazelnut farming in Italy; ii) to compare the level of environmental sustainability in different Italian production areas; and iii) to understand and discuss the causes of the observed diversity.
The methodology, based on an upgrade of the original ecological footprint approach, compares availability and utilization of natural capital in hazelnut production and defines an ecological balance, which, reporting a surplus/deficit of natural capital, provides a direct feedback of production process sustainability/ unsustainability.
The analysis was carried out considering representative farms in the four main Italian hazelnut production areas: Piedmont, Lazio, Campania and Sicily.
First results show an overall positive value, establishing a condition of general sustainability of hazelnut production, even if there is a sensitivity to cultivation techniques, in particular for the use of machinery and fertilizer inputs.
Agricultural activity plays a relevant role, both for its economic function and its role in safeguarding the environment and natural resources.
This study refers to the meaning of sustainability adopted in the Ecological Economics paradigm, which is based on the strict preservation of natural capital.
The objectives of the study were: i) to assess the environmental sustainability of hazelnut farming in Italy; ii) to compare the level of environmental sustainability in different Italian production areas; and iii) to understand and discuss the causes of the observed diversity.
The methodology, based on an upgrade of the original ecological footprint approach, compares availability and utilization of natural capital in hazelnut production and defines an ecological balance, which, reporting a surplus/deficit of natural capital, provides a direct feedback of production process sustainability/ unsustainability.
The analysis was carried out considering representative farms in the four main Italian hazelnut production areas: Piedmont, Lazio, Campania and Sicily.
First results show an overall positive value, establishing a condition of general sustainability of hazelnut production, even if there is a sensitivity to cultivation techniques, in particular for the use of machinery and fertilizer inputs.
Publication
Authors
E. Biagetti, A. Martella, T. De Gregorio, B. Pancino, S. Franco
Keywords
Corylus avellana, sustainability, ecological footprint, ecological balance, representative farms
Groups involved
Online Articles (78)