Quantifying the environmental impact of production in agriculture and horticulture in the Netherlands: which emissions do we need to consider?

This study focuses on the environmental impact of agricultural production. The aim of the study is to identify the most important sources of greenhouse gases, acidifying and eutrophying compounds in Tomato Cultivation, Greenhouse Horticulture and Total Agriculture in The Netherlands. Within each of these three sectors we distinguish two systems. The System Agriculture (System A) includes the first-order processes of the agricultural production chain and the System Industry (System I) includes some second-order processes. Results indicate that, in general, System A emissions exceed System I emissions. However, in some cases emissions from System I are relatively high compared to System A emissions, and need to be considered when quantifying the total environmental impact of agricultural production. For example, acidifying emissions from the production of electricity and rockwool (both second-order processes) contribute almost 25␝o the total acidifying emissions from System Greenhouse Horticulture A I

Biogenic versus abiogenic emissions from agriculture in the Netherlands and options for emission control in tomato cultivation

In this paper, present-day emissions of greenhouse gases and acidifying compounds from agriculture are analysed at the farm level. Quantitative estimates are given for these emissions from three nested systems in the Netherlands: the agricultural sector, greenhouse horticulture, and tomato cultivation under glass. Total emissions are subdivided into emissions from biogenic sources and abiogenic sources. We conclude that, although most of the emissions from the agricultural sector have biogenic sources, those from abiogenic sources should not be neglected. Abiogenic emissions are mainly from greenhouse horticulture. The cost-effectiveness of options to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions from on-farm combustion of natural gas in tomato cultivation under glass is analysed. An inventory is given of technical reduction options that are presently available in practice. Based on information about the costs and the reduction potential of each option, cost-efficiency curves are derived for both types of emissions. Relative to a situation where none of the described options were applied (early nineties), CO2 and NOx emissions from tomato cultivation can be reduced at most by about 70 nd 75°respectively, by combinations of technical options