Estimación de la Huella de Carbono del proceso de panificación en la cadena agroindustrial del trigo

Las cadenas alimentarias son responsables, en todo el mundo, de una gran parte de las emisiones totalesde gases de efecto invernadero. La Huella de Carbono (HC) representa un indicador que pretende cuantificarla cantidad total de emisiones de gases de efecto invernadero -expresada en equivalentes de dióxido de carbono-causadas directa o indirectamente por una actividad o las acumuladas durante la vida o etapas de un producto. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue estimar la HC del proceso de panificación incluyendo las etapas de producción primaria, molienda, panificación, consumo y los transportes del trigo y de la harina y, además,comparar la HC del pan producido en Argentina con respecto al producido en Brasil y China, en función de las matrices energéticas de cada país

Dynamics of cultivation and floods in arable lands of Central Argentina

Cultivation practices emerge as a promising human-controlled factor that could offset the undesirable impacts of floods. The paper explores relations between rainfall, groundwater level, and cultivation to explain the dynamics of floods in the Quinto river watershed (Argentina). The analysis supports the existence of a cyclic mechanism driven by reciprocal influences, between cultivation and groundwater as an outstanding feature of highlands, but not in evidence in lowlands. Floods in lowlands may be the combined result of various factors such as local rainfall, groundwater level fluctuations, surface and subsurface lateral flow, and water-body interlinking

Superação de dormência de sementes como estratégia para restauração florestal de pastagem tropical

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a influência de tratamentos de superação da dormência de sementes sobre a taxa e o tempo de emergência de espécies arbóreas de Fabaceae, e sobre seu estabelecimento, quando reintroduzidas em pastagem, no Cerrado. Foram realizados experimentos em casa de vegetação e em campo (pastagem de Urochloa brizantha), com as espécies Mimosa caesalpiniifolia, Peltophorum dubium, Pterogyne nitens, Dimorphandra mollis, Copaifera langsdorffii e Hymenaea stigonocarpa, submetidas ou não aos seguintes tratamentos de superação de dormência: D. mollis e H. stigonocarpa, escarificação mecânica; C. langsdorffii e M. caesalpiniifolia, escarificação química com H2SO4; P. nitens, punção do tegumento; e P. dubium, imersão em água a 80ºC. O estabelecimento em campo foi monitorado por 21 meses. A superação de dormência promoveu, em casa de vegetação, maior emergência de quatro das seis espécies avaliadas, e, no campo, de cinco espécies. Além disso, reduziu o tempo de emergência das espécies e aumentou o recrutamento de M. caesalpiniifolia, P. nitens, D. mollis e H. stigonocarpa, aos 127 dias, e de H. stigonocarpa aos 659 dias. Os tratamentos de superação de dormência podem aumentar a eficiência da semeadura direta, em projetos de restauração de áreas degradadas no Cerrado, ao promover maior emergência das sementes e o estabelecimento das plantas

Estiación de la Huella de Carbono del proceso de panificación en la cadena agroindustrial del trigo

Food chains are responsible, in the world, of a large part of the total emissions of greenhouse gases. The carbon footprint (CF) represents an indicator that attempts to quantify the total amount of greenhouse gas emissions - expressed in carbon dioxide equivalent - caused directly or indirectly, by an activity or the accumulated during life or stages of a product. The objective of the present work was to estimate the CF of the baking process, including the stages of primary production, milling, baking, consumption and the corresponding transport of wheat and flour and in addition, compare the CF of the bread produced in Argentina with respect to that produced in Brazil and China, according to the energy matrices of each country. For the calculation of the CF, related the average energy consumption per functional unit of each stage, with their emission factor unit of greenhouse gases, expressed in Kg eq-CO2. The value of CF of 1 kg of bread, it has varied between 0.502 and 1.323 Kg eq-CO2. The more advanced stages of contribution were consumption, baking and primary production. Taking into account, the matrices of power generation from Argentina, Brazil and China, it was observed that the CF of the bread produced in Argentina, was higher at 0.42 Kg eq-CO2 Kg of bread-1 with respect to the bread produced in Brazil, but lower in 0.62 Kg eq-CO2 Kg of bread-1 that produced in China. The foregoing, determines that one of the main responsible of the size of the CF of the products, it is the energy matrix of each country. Knowing the value of the CF of the wheat bread, the consumer can decide which product buy and how consuming it and the actors involved in the bakery chain, optimize the productive process.Las cadenas alimentarias son responsables, en todo el mundo, de una gran parte de las emisiones totales de gases de efecto invernadero. La Huella de Carbono (HC) representa un indicador que pretende cuantificar la cantidad total de emisiones de gases de efecto invernadero -expresada en equivalentes de dióxido de carbono- causadas directa o indirectamente por una actividad o las acumuladas durante la vida o etapas de un producto. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue estimar la HC del proceso de panificación incluyendo las etapas de producción primaria, molienda, panificación, consumo y los transportes del trigo y de la harina y, además, comparar la HC del pan producido en Argentina con respecto al producido en Brasil y China, en función de las matrices energéticas de cada país. Para el cálculo de la HC, se relacionó el consumo energético promedio por unidad funcional de cada etapa, con su factor de emisión unitario de gases de efecto invernadero, expresado en Kg eq-CO2. El valor de la HC de 1 Kg de pan, varió entre 0.502 y 1.323 Kg eq-CO2. Las etapas de mayor contribución fueron consumo, panificación y producción primaria. Teniendo en cuenta, las matrices de generación eléctrica de Argentina, Brasil y China, se observó que la HC del pan producido en Argentina, fue mayor en 0.42 Kg eq-CO2 Kg de pan-1 con respecto al pan producido en Brasil, pero menor en 0.62 Kg eq-CO2 Kg de pan-1 al producido en China. Lo anterior, determina que uno de los principales responsables del tamaño de la HC de los productos es la matriz energética de cada país. Conociendo el valor de la HC del pan de trigo, el consumidor puede decidir qué producto comprar y cómo consumirlo, y los actores involucrados en la cadena de panificación, pueden optimizar el proceso productivo

Surface and groundwater dynamics in the sedimentary plains of the Western Pampas (Argentina)

The study describes groundwater dynamics and water-body expansion in a 10-year flooding cycle in the agricultural lands of the Western Pampas. It analyzes water-table depth, surface water coverage, and rainfall (1996 to 2005). Ground and surface water dynamics were closely coupled. This connection, and the relatively slow process of cumulative water accretion and coalescence of water bodies that precedes flood events, together offer the opportunity of developing warning systems that could help land managers adapt to climate changes. However, the link differs between lowlands and highlands. It also depends on whether the system is at the gaining or retraction stage