Global increasing hunger, worsened by climate change, underscores the urgency of tackling land degradation. A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of broccoli microgreens in an Indoor Vertical Farm (IVF) evaluated environmental performance, focusing on land use impacts using the LANCA model. Two scenarios were studied: using the national electricity grid mix or a photovoltaic system mix. Results show a 20% lower impact with 70% energy replaced by solar energy, turning from 21.3 kg to 17.2 kg of CO2 eq./ kg fresh weight broccoli microgreens. Hotspot analysis identifies climate change as crucial, with seeds and substrate inputs contributing significantly. Similar impacting contributions were observed also implementing the LANCA model.
Cavallo, A.C., Parkes, M., Righi, S. (2025). Assessing Land Use of an Indoor Vertical Farm Microgreens production through Life Cycle Assessment. Roma : Associazione Rete Italiana LCA.
Assessing Land Use of an Indoor Vertical Farm Microgreens production through Life Cycle Assessment
Ana C. Cavallo
Primo
Writing – Original Draft Preparation
;Serena RighiUltimo
Supervision
2025
Abstract
Global increasing hunger, worsened by climate change, underscores the urgency of tackling land degradation. A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of broccoli microgreens in an Indoor Vertical Farm (IVF) evaluated environmental performance, focusing on land use impacts using the LANCA model. Two scenarios were studied: using the national electricity grid mix or a photovoltaic system mix. Results show a 20% lower impact with 70% energy replaced by solar energy, turning from 21.3 kg to 17.2 kg of CO2 eq./ kg fresh weight broccoli microgreens. Hotspot analysis identifies climate change as crucial, with seeds and substrate inputs contributing significantly. Similar impacting contributions were observed also implementing the LANCA model.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
