Regresar

ECo-efficiency of the models of agricultural production of hard corn and its influence on climate change in Shushufindi Ecuador

Abstract:

Eco-efficiency is defined as the quantity or economic value of a product by its environmental influence, and it identifies the sustainability of a system in socio-economic and environmental aspects. The objective of this research was to evaluate the ecoefficiency of three models of agricultural production of hard corn present in the Shushufindi canton, Ecuador. The models identified in the study were the conventional model (MC), semi-conventional (MS) and traditional (MT). The environmental influence was determined through two impact indicators contemplated in the Life Cycle Analysis, such as GHG emissions, according to the IPCC guidelines (IPCC, 2006a), and the water footprint (HH) through the components stated by Hoekstra et al., (2011). For the evaluation of ecoefficiency, the guidelines of Ribal et al. (2009) were considered, applying a non-linear programming optimization (LPG) model. GHG emissions per MC were 2926.92 kgCO2eq ha−1 year−1 and an HH of 1157.86 m3 ton−1, MS contributed 1209.45 kg CO2eq ha−1 year−1 and a HH of 1201.85 m3 ton−1, while the resulting MT emissions were 570 kg CO2eq ha−1 year−1 and a HH of 1008.16 m3 ton−1, and it was determined that the MT is the most eco-efficient model with a value of 0.99. The results allowed to know the impacts associated to the models of agricultural production of maize, its contribution to the Climate Change (CC) in sensitive ecosystems like those of the Ecuadorian Amazon, so that in this way sustainable agricultural practices are implemented.