Carbon footprint of the colombian cocoa production

Abstract

ABSTRACT:Cocoa is an important commercial crop in the tropics; and estimating the carbon emissions in the producing-areas is a worthwhile effort. The main goal of the current paper was to evaluate the carbon footprint (CF) per kilogram of Colombian cocoa bean produced under conventional and agroforestry managements, following the methods proposed by PAS 2050. In this research, we compared our results to other worldwide researches, showing an overview of the current limitations and challenges involving the CF researches. Our results showed that all calculated environmental burdens were lower for the conventional management. In the agroforestry practice, composting of cocoa pod husks contributed with approximately 34.00E+00 g methane and 2.55E+00 g nitrous oxide emissions per kilogram of cocoa grain produced. Therefore, such practice could reduce CF by 6.00E+00 kg CO 2 Eq kg -1 , which is certainly a significant amount. These cocoa residues left on the ground have a strong impact on CF of both studied managements due to the anaerobic decomposition of organic matter, which represents more than 85% of emissions. We concluded that both evaluated production processes can emit environmental burdens at the same magnitude. Definitely, there is a widespread need to improve cocoa production system by changing old and less productive plants to the so called clones to ensure cocoa yield and quality worldwide. KEYWORDS:Carbon footprint, climate changes, global warming potential, Theobroma cacao L. PEGADA DE CARBONO DA PRODUÇÃO DE CACAU COLOMBIANORESUMO: O cacau é uma importante cultura comercial nos trópicos e estimar as emissões de carbono para áreas de melhoria de segmentação é um esforço que vale a pena. Portanto, o principal objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar a pegada de carbono (CF) de grãos de cacau colombianos por kg utilizando a metodologia por PAS 2050. Nesta pesquisa, discutiram-se os resultados e apresentou-se uma visão geral das limitações percebidas e dos desafios atuais de pesquisa CF. Os resultados mostram que todas as cargas foram calculadas e encontram-se rebaixadas para a tecnologia convencional. A compostagem contribuiu com aproximadamente 34.00E + 00 g de metano e 2.55E + 00 g de óxido nitroso por quilograma de cacau. Assim, esta prática é capaz de reduzir o CF por 6.00E + 00 kg CO2 eq kg-1, que é certamente significativo. Resíduos deixados no solo, como é o caso da casca de cacau, têm um forte impacto sobre a CF de ambas as tecnologias estudadas devido à decomposição anaeróbia da matéria orgânica, o que representa mais de 85% das emissões. Pode-se concluir que o processo de produção selecionado pode emitir cargas ambientais com a mesma ordem de grandeza, utilizando-se das duas abordagens tecnológicas diferentes, vulgarmente utilizadas neste campo. Então, definitivamente, não é uma necessidade generalizada para promover a modernização da produção de cacau por uma transição em que as velhas e menos produtivas plantas são substituídas pelos chamados clones, a fim de garantir a produtividade do cacau m...

Greenhouse gas balance and mitigation potential of agricultural systems in Colombia: A systematic analysis

“…found that the C footprint in coffee systems is influenced mainly by nitrogen fertility. Ortiz et al ., 103 evaluating potential GHG emissions from cocoa farms in Colombia, obtained emissions between 2.0 and 8.0 kg CO 2 eq kg −1 cocoa. Appropriate management of agricultural systems at the farm level can lead to C sequestration (biomass and soil), meaning a farm can lower its C footprint 14 .…”

Environmental and social consequences of the increase in the demand for ‘superfoods’ world‐wide

“…For instance, coffee and cocoa on average have a carbon footprint of 8.3 (van Rikxoort, Schroth, Läderach, & Rodríguez‐Sánchez, 2014) and 8.0 kg CO 2 e/kg (Ortiz‐Rodríguez, Villamizar‐Gallardo, Naranjo‐Merino, García‐Caceres, & Castañeda‐galvís, 2016). However, different management practices, such as the diversification of crops within a farm or the inclusion of a diverse set of shade tree species, can reduce their carbon footprint (van Rikxoort et al, 2014).…”

“…In particular, a departure from monocrop exploitations to more diverse systems where multiple crops are produced, and particularly agroforestry systems that include shade tree species, might be an opportunity to ensure win–win scenarios for agricultural production and biodiversity, while safeguarding the long‐term sustainability of the production. Although agroforestry practices also need improvement in order to decrease their impact, including their emissions, for example a comparison between conventional and agroforestry cocoa systems in Colombia showed they had equivalent CO 2 emissions (Ortiz‐Rodríguez et al, 2016).…”

Modelling greenhouse gas emissions of cacao production in the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire

“…Gama-Rodrigues et al 2011;van Rikxoort et al 2014). It is highly debated whether the production of cacao is associated with net GHG emissions or net storage of carbon (Ortiz-Rodriguez et al 2016;Defra 2009;Schroth et al 2016;Montagnini and Nair 2004). On the one hand, forest conversion to cacao land, burning organic material, a common practice in current cacao production systems, and applying fertiliser is associated with GHG emissions (Ledo et al 2018).…”

“…The emissions calculated for GAP of 2.29 kg CO 2 e per kg beans cacao for a yield of 1184 kg ha -1 also fall within the range. Available studies report a net emission of GHGs per kilogram of cacao beans produced between 0.32 and 42 kg CO 2 e per kilogram of cacao(Recanti et al 2018;Ntiamoah and Afrane 2008;Ortiz- Rodriguez et al 2016;Harris et al 2015;Konstantas et al 2018;Defra 2009;Schroth et al 2016) but they rarely relate these emissions explicitly to the level of cacao beans produced. Looking closer to the studies we will try to explain the differences.Ortiz-Rodriguez et al (…”