Laying footprints on a new path: proper accounting of biogenic fluxes makes viticulture carbon neutral

Abstract

To limit the acceleration of global warming we need to reduce greenhouse gases emissions (GHG), making our production processes more carbon-efficient and optimizing absorptions. Viticulture, and agriculture in general, is a sector with great and real possibilities of improving its environmental impact, with significant and cost effective GHG mitigation potential.

Recently, vineyards, and in general orchards, have been shown to be a significant carbon sinks in the short and medium term, especially due to the peculiar management of the soil in a life cycle of decades. But are these sinks comparable to the GHG emissions by field management? This was the first multi-annual study combining carbon footprint (emissions of CO2) and vineyard Net Ecosystem Exchange (CO2 absorptions, assessed by eddy covariance) of wine making field phase.

The results indicate high variability in the comprehensive annual carbon balance and its components (anthropogenic emissions, vineyard absorption and harvest), with usually, but not always, negative net balance (i.e. absorptions greater than emissions). This study suggests that optimizing processes in agriculture, at least tree crops, with strategies focused on C management that minimize emissions and optimize absorption, is a possible, effective and high value option. The calculation of the complete C footprint in the agricultural sector can be very useful in the perspective of carbon farming initiatives and for directing the management of perennial cropstowards neutrality, with a better addressing of environmental issues.