Home > Articles > Published articles > Life cycle cost analysis of tomato production in innovative urban agriculture systems |
Date: | 2022 |
Abstract: | The construction of innovative urban agriculture systems in cities has increased due to food and environmental concerns. While the environmental performance of urban agriculture has been extensively studied, research on the life cycle costs of urban agriculture systems is still limited, which constraints sustainability-oriented decision-making processes. This paper analyses the economic viability of tomato production cycle in an innovative building with an integrated urban agriculture system in rooftop by applying the life cycle cost methodology. The data was collected from direct measurements and internal and external sources. To calculate labour costs, a customised data collection sheet was created. The results are presented by life cycle stage, cost category and type of cost (fixed & variable). Results indicate that the main cost drivers for tomato production are labour (24. 7%), the rooftop greenhouse structure (15%), external pest control (12. 6%), and rainwater consumption (9. 5%), accounting altogether for 61. 8% of the total costs. Accordingly, cost reduction solutions are evaluated through the development of sensitivity scenarios (rooftop greenhouse structure design, tap water use and rainwater tank size), including the consideration of another relevant aspect, such as the role of the production level output, as it can greatly influence the economic viability and profitability. Finally, the main environmental and social aspects of these urban production systems are also included. |
Grants: | Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad CTM2016-75772-C3-1-R European Commission 862663 Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad BES-2016-079119 Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad MDM-2015-0552 |
Note: | Altres ajuts: acords transformatius de la UAB |
Note: | Unidad de excelencia María de Maeztu CEX2019-000940-M |
Rights: | Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, la comunicació pública de l'obra i la creació d'obres derivades, sempre que no sigui amb finalitats comercials, i sempre que es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original. |
Language: | Anglès |
Document: | Article ; recerca ; Versió publicada |
Subject: | Economic viability ; Food security ; LCC ; Sustainable cities ; Urban agriculture ; Urban food production |
Published in: | Journal of Cleaner Production, Vol. 367 (September 2022) , art. 133037, ISSN 0959-6526 |
14 p, 3.1 MB |