Assessing the Environmental Impact of Strawberries Grown in Soilless Systems: A Life Cycle Assessment Case Study.

Modern agriculture faces pressing challenges that threaten environmental sustainability. One promising approach to address these challenges lies in the adoption of soilless cultivation systems. These systems replace soil with growing mediums (liquid or solid) and provide plants with nutrients through a nutrient solution, eliminating the need for tillage and minimizing soil degradation. However, concerns have been raised regarding their environmental impacts, which can vary depending on the technology and infrastructure employed. In this article an LCA case study of soilless strawberry cultivation in Maletto (Italy) is proposed to evaluate the environmental burdens connected with this system. The functional unit is 1 kg of strawberries, and the system boundaries are defined as cradle-to-gate. The inventory analysis is carried out using primary data collected through direct interviews and questionnaires submitted to the farmer, and secondary data from literature and dedicated databases. The impact assessment is performed using the CML I-A baseline and IPCC methods. Preliminary results led to identify fertilizers, substrate bag and transport to farm as major hotspots. Further research will be focused on a comparative study between soilless and soil-based strawberry cultivation systems to fully assess their relative environmental impacts and inform sustainable agricultural practices.