Saffron growing in Italy: a sustainable secondary activity for farms in hilly and sub-mountain areas

Giupponi, Luca; Leoni, Valeria; Sala, Stefano; Giorgi, Annamaria; Bertoni, Danilo

doi:10.1080/14735903.2023.2270263

Cited by 2 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…In perennial cultivation, corms are planted and left undisturbed for an extended period, typically 3 or 4 years. In Italy, 90% of saffron farms do not apply irrigation while just 40% of farms are mechanized [37]. However, in arid and semiarid areas, saffron must be irrigated to achieve satisfactory yield [38].…”

Section: Energy Balance and Performance Indicesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…According to Esfahani and Khazaee [40], nitrogen fertilizer accounted for 46% of the saffron ecological footprint index, while human labor contributed to 43%. While some studies [15,39] did not provide detailed information on system hotspots [16,37], the overall consensus underscores the pivotal role of nitrogen fertilization and mechanization in shaping the environmental impact of saffron production.…”

Section: Environmental Profile Using Lcamentioning

confidence: 99%

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Energy, Environmental, and Economic Sustainability of Saffron Cultivation: Insights from the First European (Italian) Case Study

Mehmeti,

Candido,

Canaj

et al. 2024

Sustainability

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Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) stands as a valuable agricultural commodity, witnessing an increasing market inclination toward environmentally sustainable and eco-friendly products. The current literature on the environmental impact and profitability of saffron cultivation is limited, underscoring a notable gap in comprehending the sustainability aspects of this crop. This study utilized a comprehensive multi-model approach to assess the sustainability of annual saffron cultivation, representing the first global detailed evaluation, conducted within a European context (Southern Italy). Energy analysis, physical and monetized life cycle assessment (LCA), and life cycle costing (LCC) were used for a cradle-to-farm gate assessment. One hectare of cultivated saffron, one saffron production yield (stigma, corm, and flower), and 1 kg of stigma yield were used as functional units. The total energy input was 65,073 MJ ha−1, being 33% direct, 67% indirect, 72% renewable, and 28% non-renewable. The majority (55%) of energy is derived from corm production. For 1 kg of saffron the energy efficiency, specific energy, and productivity were 2.98, 4.64 MJ kg−1, and 0.22 kg MJ−1, respectively, while these values dropped significantly for 1 kg of stigma. The multi-indicator LCA analysis using the ReCiPe 2016 model revealed significant contributions to various environmental impact categories. Results align with prior research, pinpointing fertilization and mechanical operations as the primary drivers of diverse environmental impacts. A noticeable carbon intensity was estimated, with a relevant contribution from corm production and human labor, aspects overlooked in previous LCA studies. Saffron cultivation maintains economic viability, with production costs at EUR 98,435 per ha−1 and a net return margin of EUR 172,680 per ha−1, bolstered by the high market price and by-product revenue. Monetization of LCA results revealed that external costs were EUR 15,509 per ha−1, being only 14% of the total cost. Investments in improving yield and resource efficiency have the potential to increase the eco-efficiency of saffron cultivation.

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Section: Energy Balance and Performance Indicesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Environmental Profile Using Lcamentioning

confidence: 99%

Energy, Environmental, and Economic Sustainability of Saffron Cultivation: Insights from the First European (Italian) Case Study

Mehmeti,

Candido,

Canaj

et al. 2024

Sustainability

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Building a database for the quality characteristics of the Protected Designation of Origin saffron Krokos Kozanis, considering international trade requirements

Ordoudi,

Tsimidou

2024

Explor Foods Foodomics

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Aim: Saffron, a precious spice deriving from the emblematic Crocus sativus L. cultivation, is a traditional product with high socio-economic and cultural value in Greece, especially in the region of Western Macedonia where the Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) Krokos Kozanis thrives. Since 1981, its international trade has relied on the International Standard Organization (ISO) 3632 standard specifications for quality classification. Currently, the Codex Alimentarius Committee on spices and culinary herbs is developing a “Codex standard for dried floral parts—Saffron”, which introduces a new “extra” quality class on top of the existing ones. Efforts are underway to harmonize both standards for the benefit of the interested parties. In this direction, scientific evidence from compositional databases is essential for objective decision-making. This work presents a systematic study of the compositional variability in Greek saffron in terms of coloring, flavor, and aroma strength, according to ISO and Codex standards. Methods: Saffron samples (n = 547) were obtained from the registered growers-members of the Cooperative of Kozani Saffron Growers (Kozani, Western Macedonia, Greece, 2022 harvest). The samples were collected under the responsibility of the administration and quality control manager of the Cooperative, sent directly to the laboratory and analyzed according to ISO 3632-2 test methods for moisture, coloring, flavor, and aroma strength. The analytical data were combined with meta-data about individual member production, processing practices, etc. Results: The captured trends and overall discussion reveal to which extent the Greek PDO Krokos Kozanis can address challenges stemming from the introduction of the “extra” category. Conclusions: The results were used to initiate building a compositional database for the PDO Krokos Kozanis. The data should be regularly updated to serve not only the internal quality control management system of the Cooperative but also as reliable documentation for the official controls of the registered product.

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Saffron growing in Italy: a sustainable secondary activity for farms in hilly and sub-mountain areas

Cited by 2 publications

References 42 publications

Energy, Environmental, and Economic Sustainability of Saffron Cultivation: Insights from the First European (Italian) Case Study

Energy, Environmental, and Economic Sustainability of Saffron Cultivation: Insights from the First European (Italian) Case Study

Building a database for the quality characteristics of the Protected Designation of Origin saffron Krokos Kozanis, considering international trade requirements

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