358
A. Evangelista et al.
technology greenhouse presents the lowest carbon footprint and overall damage
scores at the endpoint level when compared to med and high-tech systems.
It is important to notice that the natural gas, one of the most used energy sources,
had been utilised by both cooling and heating systems resulting in significant effects
on the environmental burdens. Under this circumstance, it is recommendable to use
modern technologies to improve energy use efficiency via automated systems. In
Australia, solar energy is an alternative to renewable energy to reduce the usage of
natural gas in cooling/heating systems.
Further studies should be considered about the new technologies and design of
high technology greenhouses. It is important to evaluate the building components
that will be affecting the plant growth, for example, heating/cooling system, lights,
site, space and growing media. These components could be designed by adopting the
building information modelling (BIM), as a useful platform to gather information on
both infrastructure (greenhouse structure) and energy systems.
In terms of the environmental impact analysis considering high tech greenhouse,
it is possible to observe that the significant number of publications are focused on
Energy demand showing sustainable alternatives to mitigate CO2 emission and/or
GWP. However, further studies are needed to evaluate other impacts pertinent to
the agriculture industry, mainly water scarcity, and eutrophication in a controlled
environment production.
References
Almeida J, Achten WMJ, Verbist B, Heuts RF, Schrevens E, Muys B (2014) Carbon and water
footprints and energy use of greenhouse tomato production in Northern Italy. J Ind Ecol 18:898–
908. https://doi.org/10.1111/jiec.12169
Badgery PJ (1999) Building a greenhouse
Bartzas G, Zaharaki D, Komnitsas K (2015) Life cycle assessment of open field and greenhouse
cultivation of lettuce and barley. Inf Process Agric 2:191–207. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.inpa.
2015.10.001
Bartzas G, Vamvuka D, Komnitsas K (2017) Comparative life cycle assessment of pistachio, almond
and apple production. Inf Process Agric 4:188–198. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.inpa.2017.04.001
Bos U, Makishi C, Fischer M (2008) Life cycle assessment of common used agricultural plastic
products in the EU. Acta Hortic 801 PART 1:341–9. https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2008.
801.35
Boulard T, Raeppel C, Brun R, Lecompte F, Hayer F, Carmassi G (2011) Environmental impact of
greenhouse tomato production in France. Agron Sustain Dev 31:757–777
Burchi G, Chessa S, Gambineri F, Kocian A, Massa D, Milazzo P (2018) Information technology
controlled greenhouse: a system architecture. 2018 IoT Vert Top Summit Agric—Tuscany. IOT
Tuscany 2018:1–6
Caffrey KR, Veal MW (2013) Conducting an agricultural life cycle assessment: challenges and
perspectives. Sci World J. https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/472431
Castellano S, Scarascia MG, Russo G Briassoulis D, Mistriotis A, Hemming S (2008) Plastic nets in
agriculture: a general review of types and applications. Appl Eng Agric https://doi.org/10.13031/
2013.25368
A. Evangelista et al.
technology greenhouse presents the lowest carbon footprint and overall damage
scores at the endpoint level when compared to med and high-tech systems.
It is important to notice that the natural gas, one of the most used energy sources,
had been utilised by both cooling and heating systems resulting in significant effects
on the environmental burdens. Under this circumstance, it is recommendable to use
modern technologies to improve energy use efficiency via automated systems. In
Australia, solar energy is an alternative to renewable energy to reduce the usage of
natural gas in cooling/heating systems.
Further studies should be considered about the new technologies and design of
high technology greenhouses. It is important to evaluate the building components
that will be affecting the plant growth, for example, heating/cooling system, lights,
site, space and growing media. These components could be designed by adopting the
building information modelling (BIM), as a useful platform to gather information on
both infrastructure (greenhouse structure) and energy systems.
In terms of the environmental impact analysis considering high tech greenhouse,
it is possible to observe that the significant number of publications are focused on
Energy demand showing sustainable alternatives to mitigate CO2 emission and/or
GWP. However, further studies are needed to evaluate other impacts pertinent to
the agriculture industry, mainly water scarcity, and eutrophication in a controlled
environment production.
References
Almeida J, Achten WMJ, Verbist B, Heuts RF, Schrevens E, Muys B (2014) Carbon and water
footprints and energy use of greenhouse tomato production in Northern Italy. J Ind Ecol 18:898–
908. https://doi.org/10.1111/jiec.12169
Badgery PJ (1999) Building a greenhouse
Bartzas G, Zaharaki D, Komnitsas K (2015) Life cycle assessment of open field and greenhouse
cultivation of lettuce and barley. Inf Process Agric 2:191–207. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.inpa.
2015.10.001
Bartzas G, Vamvuka D, Komnitsas K (2017) Comparative life cycle assessment of pistachio, almond
and apple production. Inf Process Agric 4:188–198. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.inpa.2017.04.001
Bos U, Makishi C, Fischer M (2008) Life cycle assessment of common used agricultural plastic
products in the EU. Acta Hortic 801 PART 1:341–9. https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2008.
801.35
Boulard T, Raeppel C, Brun R, Lecompte F, Hayer F, Carmassi G (2011) Environmental impact of
greenhouse tomato production in France. Agron Sustain Dev 31:757–777
Burchi G, Chessa S, Gambineri F, Kocian A, Massa D, Milazzo P (2018) Information technology
controlled greenhouse: a system architecture. 2018 IoT Vert Top Summit Agric—Tuscany. IOT
Tuscany 2018:1–6
Caffrey KR, Veal MW (2013) Conducting an agricultural life cycle assessment: challenges and
perspectives. Sci World J. https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/472431
Castellano S, Scarascia MG, Russo G Briassoulis D, Mistriotis A, Hemming S (2008) Plastic nets in
agriculture: a general review of types and applications. Appl Eng Agric https://doi.org/10.13031/
2013.25368