Environmental Management In Agriculture Based On Water And Climate Change AssessmentsTools For Decision Making By Life Cycle Approach

Abstract

The irrigated world area has been increased dramatically from the mid of 20th century. Freshwater use and its consumption have emerged as areas of high environmental concern. Although agricultural lands represent only 12% of the world’s land area, roughly 70% of water withdrawn from aquifers, streams and lakes are for irrigated agriculture. Climate change is a truly global problem around the world and the contribution from the agricultural sector is significantly high. Consequently, the environmental impacts from the use of water by agricultural activities and their relative contribution to Greenhouse Gas emissions should be properly addressed. The present thesis aims mainly to assess the environmental performance of different agricultural systems through the application of Life Cycle Assessment and other complementary methods. Two main environmental impacts were considered: Global Warming and Water Footprint. The objective is to provide farmers with methodological and practical decision- making tools to help them to practice in sustainable agriculture.