Download Guidelines for Energy Efficiency and Reduction of Emissions in the

Step 8 – Environmental impact
Carbon footprint study
Climate change is an important topic today and is of great interest to
importers, distributors, retailers and consumers. Fresh fruit distributors
are now requesting emission values for the products they import to
illustrate to their customers that their purchases generate a lower
environmental impact than competitors. To date, countries within Europe
that are most aware of the carbon foot print issue and the environmental
effects it has are Germany, France and the United Kingdom.
The reduction of GHG emissions are important for our customers and a
reduction will help to support their strategic procurement decisions when
purchasing fresh fruit from Chile and the southern hemisphere.
By taking steps to reduce our GHG emissions we will ultimately improve
our service to our customers and achieve long-term sustainable
production that will help to secure and expand our global market for
Chilean fresh fruit exports.
As part of the ChileG.A.P program in the area of environmental awareness
the industry has undertaken a study called “Diagnosis of the contribution
of carbon emissions derived from the production of red and green apples
in association with the stages of production and transportation to the
destination market” that compares the primary characteristics of the
greenhouse gas emissions generated from the production of apples in
Chile compared to those of apples produced in New Zealand and the
United Kingdom.
The total CO2 emissions and energy usage for apple production was
calculated using the Wells methodology mirroring the conditions used in
the New Zealand study of the Agribusiness & Economics Research Unit of
Lincoln University of New Zealand, elaborated by Saunders, Barber and
Taylor and published in July 2006: titled “Food Miles- Comparative
Energy/emissions Performance of New Zealand’s Agriculture Industry,
Research report 285”.
This study established as an initial hypothesis, that the primary production
process of Chilean apples and their transportation would generate more
emissions than the New Zealand’s apple production equivalent process.
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The results indicate that the apple industry in Chile, measured through the
above mentioned benchmarking study, has a carbon footprint similar to
that of a New Zealand apple and is lower than an apple produced in the
United Kingdom.
Guidelines for Energy Efficiency and Reduction of Emissions in the Fruit
Industry.
The carbon footprint study also highlighted a series of areas where the
industry can take specific actions in order to help to reduce the emissions
of our fruit production. Through the ChileG.A.P program, the sector has
proposed a range of solutions to help our growers and exporters reduce
their carbon emissions. For example, the industry’s research,
development and innovation entity the Fruit Development Foundation
(FDF) has published guidelines titled “Guidelines for Energy Efficiency and
Reduction of Emissions in the Fruit Industry”. With this important tool
growers will be able to use these guides to both measure and evaluate
their emissions and then implement a series of recommendations
proposed in these guidelines in order to reduce their total carbon output.
The guidelines cover the following areas:
•
Summary of chapters:
o
Important aspects of the use of energy in farms and pack
houses
o
Energy efficiency of the farm
o
Energy efficiency of assets / machines and buildings
o
Energy efficiency applied to farm management
o
Agricultural equipment - use and maintenance
o
Energy efficiency applicable to pack houses and cold storage
o
Records required for packing – cold storage plants
o
Management of residues
o
Transportation
o
Plant maintenance plan
Memorandum of Understanding with Carbon Zero:
Recently the sector has entered into a strategic Alliance (MOU) with
Carbon Zero of New Zealand. Carbon Zero is a greenhouse effect
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certification program and the first international official certification
scheme of this type in the world. Landcare Research, a New Zealand
organization devoted to the investigation of environmental matters, is the
owner of the rights and operator of Carbon Zero. The objective of the
strategic alliance between the Chilean Fruit Exporters Association (ASOEX)
and Landcare Research is to develop a series of actions aimed at:
a) improving the information, promotion and training on emission
reduction principles
b) developing skills in the sector
c) identifying feasible projects to reduce emissions in the fruit export
industry.
Other Alliances:
The sector also participates actively in various public and private initiatives
including:
•
A National Mirror Committee for the expansion of the ISO
International Standard on environmental management. Involvement of
the industry is particularly in the Sub-Committee of Environmental
Management and Related Activities
•
Council for Climate Change
•
ProChile’s Carbon Footprint Industry Committee Table
•
“Carbon Footprint Project of Agricultural Export Products from Chile
of the Institute of Agricultural Research (Instituto de Investigación
Agropecuaria – INIA).
•
Development of various measurement systems based on the Fruit
Development Foundations climate network through the site
www.agroclima.cl. These systems supply mechanics that allow for
the optimization of several agriculture activities such as pest
control, irrigation determination and frosts prevention which also
result in the reduction of emissions.
•
Development of new quality fruit varieties apt for Chilean natural
conditions.
•
Development of plants adapted to various production stresses:
water shortage, high salinity and low temperatures.
It should also be noted that exporters and growers of fruits from Chile are
also undertaking individually measurements of their carbon footprints, on
an on- going basis, with the objective of meeting a diverse range of
retailer requirements.
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