Environmental analysis of intensity level in wheat crop production using life cycle assessment

Although a priori thinking would suggest that a low intensity crop is environmentally favourable, this assumption ignores the effect of reduced productivity which could simply lead to pollution shifting to other places. A life cycle assessment of the wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production system for breadmaking was performed to optimise fertilization. In European temperate climate conditions, fertilizing with nitrogen mostly influences the intensity of field production systems, the quality of agricultural products and the environmental degradation. To assess and compare environmentally relevant impacts of different intensities of production, adequate functional units were developed to take into account the main functions of agricultural activity: production and upkeep of agricultural landscape. The limits of these functional units were identified and the influence of the choice of functional unit was analysed.

Endocrine disruption in soil invertebrates

Sophie Campiche

In the past years, it has been observed that some compounds present in our environment can disturb the reproduction and development of animals like fishes, birds, or reptiles by interfering with their endocrine system. Indeed, these endocrine disrupting compounds (EDC) can mimic or antagonize the effects of hormones, alter the pattern of synthesis and metabolism of hormones or modify hormone receptor levels. These substances represent a risk for wildlife, and possibly for humans. Up to now, endocrine disruption was mainly evaluated for vertebrates and aquatic organisms and for oestrogeniclike substances. However, soil invertebrates, which play an important role in soil functioning, have rarely been considered. Moreover, as their endocrine system differs substantially from those of vertebrates (estrogens do not seem to regulate endocrine functions in invertebrates), other substances than can mimic invertebrate hormones should be taken into account. In this sense, insect growth regulators (IGR), which are third generation insecticides specially developed to interfere with insect endocrine system, are interesting compounds. These substances are supposed to have a high specificity for insect pest and a low toxicity for non-target organisms. In the first part of this study, the sublethal effects of six IGR (methoprene, fenoxycarb, precocene II, tebufenozide, hexaflumuron and teflubenzuron) were evaluated on the non-target soil arthropod Folsomia candida. The collembola F. candida represents an integral and beneficial part of the soil ecosystem. It is an euedaphic (subsurface) species which plays an important role in soil respiration and decomposition processes and is therefore vulnerable to the effects of soil contamination. This ecologically relevant organism is one of the most appropriate invertebrate test species for the assessment of environmental quality. It is recommended as test organism by the international standard ISO 11267. The 28-days reproduction tests conducted according to this protocol show that F. candida is affected by the chosen IGR. The most toxic compounds were the two chitin synthesis inhibitors, teflubenzuron and hexaflumuron, with an EC50 of 0.05 mg/kg (dw) for teflubenzuron and an EC50 of 0.6 mg/kg for hexaflumuron. These concentrations are probably environmentally relevant (toxicity/exposure ratios

EPFL2006

Chemical, Biological and Ecotoxicological Assessment of Pesticides and Persistent Organic Pollutants in the Bahlui River, in Romania

Kristin Becker van Slooten, Luiz Felippe De Alencastro

Background, aim, and scope Current knowledge on environmental impacts of industrial activities in Romania, particularly persistent organic pollutants (POPs), indicates that environmental standards of the European Union are not systematically met. In our study area, additional sources of POPs are agriculture and domestic wastes. Very scarce information is available upon environmental contaminations and effects. In the present study, we investigated the chemical pollution and their eventual impact on the ecosystem by measuring POPs and by using biological indicators of pollution.

2009

Multi-objective optimization of rainfed and irrigated agricultural areas considering production and environmental criteria: a case study of wheat production in Spain

Pavel Vaskan

Meeting the growing food demand with minimum impact on the environment is a major challenge to face for ensuring a more sustainable food production. To tackle this problem, in this article we present a novel systematic method for agriculture planning that optimally allocates rainfed and irrigated cropping areas, thereby enhancing food availability and reducing the environmental impact of agriculture. The allocation problem is mathematically formulated as a multi-objective linear programming problem that simultaneously accounts for the maximisation of the crop production and the minimisation of the environmental impact caused by water consumption. To quantify the environmental damage, life cycle assessment principles and water footprint concepts are integrated into the model. The capabilities of our tool are illustrated through its application to a real case study that considers wheat production in Spain. The results show that the current allocation of rainfed and irrigated wheat areas in Spain is sub-optimal. Our tool provides a set of alternatives for optimally reallocating these wheat areas that ultimately achieve significant reductions in environmental impact while maintaining or even increasing the production level. The analysis clearly demonstrates that the optimal allocation of rainfed and irrigated cropping areas is a potential pathway to minimise the environmental impact of water consumption in food production. Our systematic decision-support tool aims to assist famers and policy-makers in the transition towards a more sustainable agricultural sector. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Elsevier2017

Endocrine disruption in soil invertebrates

Sophie Campiche

EPFL2006