ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE OF MAJOR OIL CROPS IN ITALY

The promotion of the use of biofuels for transport is one of the main objectives of the European Union (EU) energy policy of recent years, in order to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, diversify fuel supply sources, and decrease dependency on fossil fuels. Vegetable oil is the main raw material used to produce biodiesel. Sunflower and rapeseed are the most important oil crops cultivated in Italy, and their areas are expected to grow over the next years. Over the whole biodiesel supply chain, the cultivation represents the highest negative environmental impact both for sunflower and rapeseed. Besides considering the environmental impact, crop production should also be assessed from an economic perspective. Eco-efficiency is a measure of sustainability that directly links environmental impact with economic performance. This study aims to assess the environmental performance of both sunflower and oilseed rape using the Life Cycle Assessment method, and their economic return using the ecoefficiency method, identifying what is necessary to jointly minimize their environmental impact and maximize their economic value. The findings of this study provide valuable information from both an environmental and an economic perspective that are useful when deciding which crop to favor and which cultivation practices to follow. From an environmental perspective and in relation to the global warming potential, the study findings have highlighted that rapeseed crop is more environmental and economic sustainable than sunflower crop cultivation.