1st International Conference of Soil and Agriculture:
TOWARDS SOIL SUSTAINABILITY
11–13 June 2024 • Lublin–Nałęczów, Poland

https://doi.org/10.24326/ICSA1.PP.11
Published online: 4 October 2024

Evaluating the environmental impacts of conventional
and organic wheat production through life cycle assessment
Małgorzata Holka*, Jolanta Kowalska

Department of Organic Agriculture and Environmental Protection, Institute of Plant Protection—National Research Institute, Władysława Węgorka 20, 60-318 Poznań, Poland
* Corresponding author:

Abstract
Agricultural activities have a strong impact on the environment. While mineral fertilizers and chemical plant protection products bolster farm productivity and economic outcomes, their usage may contribute to negative effects on the environment, such as soil, water, and air pollution and degradation, alongside biodiversity loss. Against the backdrop of diverse environmental challenges, there’s a pressing need to foster more sustainable agricultural practices. Embracing organic farming stands out as a viable strategy to mitigate the detrimental impact of agricultural operations on the environment. The organic production system largely excludes the use of agricultural chemicals and relies primarily on proper crop rotation and other natural methods of maintaining or increasing the biological activity of the soil. Moreover, it emphasizes careful selection of plant species and varieties. Consequently, it reduces chemical pollution, fosters soil fertility, and preserves biodiversity while allowing for the production of high-quality food. Increased demand for plant-based products in food markets is a factor influencing the increase in the environmental impact of crop production. Therefore, it is necessary to recognize various agricultural production systems in terms of their environmental impact and the environmental performance of the technologies employed. One of the tools enabling comprehensive estimation of the environmental effects of agricultural activity is the life cycle assessment (LCA). This study aimed to assess the environmental impacts of winter wheat production in two systems: organic and conventional. Employing a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology, the research analysed the entire production process from cradle to farm gate, considering various environmental impact categories as recommended by the CML baseline method. The study presents the results for the following impact indicators: global warming potential, acidification potential, abiotic depletion potentials for minerals and fossil fuels, eutrophication potential, and photochemical ozone creation potential in wheat cultivation in different agricultural systems, for two functional units of 1 ha and 1 t. Findings indicated that the aggregated environmental index for wheat production was higher in the conventional compared to the organic system. The environmental index was primarily influenced by total acidification potential, followed by abiotic resources depletion potential and eutrophication potential.

Keywords: wheat, farming systems, environmental effects, life cycle assessment, sustainable agriculture

How to cite
Holka M., Kowalska J., 2024. Evaluating the environmental impacts of conventional and organic wheat production through life cycle assessment. 1st International Conference of Soil and Agriculture: Towards Soil Sustainability. https://doi.org/10.24326/ICSA1.PP.11