Spain’s Lemon Sector Aims to Further Reduce Carbon Footprint

Although Spain’s lemon industry is a net fixer of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) and its carbon footprint is favorable, the industry could promote even greater CO₂ fixation in the future. That’s one of the conclusions from a recent report from the Lemon and Grapefruit Interprofessional Association (AILIMPO).

AILIMPO has indicated a series of recommendations; if implemented in the coming years, they will improve the current levels of CO₂ fixation. Some of these recommendations are:

• Continued innovation in irrigation efficiency and optimizing the use of water and fertilizers (especially nitrogen fertilizers)
• Increasing soil organic matter
• Promotion of organic farming. The limitation of nitrogen fertilization to organic amendments, the scarce phytosanitary treatments and the maintenance of a better soil structure have an impact on a greater fixation of CO₂ in the soil and the generation of lower emissions.
• Promotion of biological and biotechnological control to reduce the number of phytosanitary treatments
• Selection of electricity suppliers with a guarantee of origin that offers a high percentage of renewable sources (even 100%)
• Generation of renewable energy on farms to cover the electricity needs of irrigation installations
• Modernization of agricultural machinery
• Renewal of vehicle fleets for others with lower emissions and even using alternative energies to fossil fuels
• Training goods drivers in efficient driving
• Carrying out energy audits and carbon footprint analysis
• Investments in renewable energies
• Energy valuation of organic waste

The AILIMPO report, Carbon Footprint of the Lemon Sector in Spain, includes the amount of CO₂ fixation in lemon plantations. It also presents data about CO₂ emissions while transporting lemons to packing and processing plants, emissions in handling warehouses and emissions in processing plants. The full report, which concluded that Spain’s lemon industry actively contributes to the fight against climate change, can be seen here.

Source: AILIMPO

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