Identification of Opportunities for Applying the Circular Economy to Intensive Agriculture in Almería (South-East Spain)
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Methodology
3. Results and Discussion
3.1. Agricultural Model of Almería: Characterisation, Limitations and Alternatives
3.1.1. Characterization of the Intensive Agriculture in Almería
3.1.2. Characterization of the Intensive Agriculture in Almería
- 1.
- Growing phase
- 2.
- Handling phase
3.1.3. Best Environmental Management Practices
3.2. Identification of Opportunities for Applying the Circular Economy
3.2.1. Growing Phase
- A.
- Organic waste management
- B.
- Inorganic waste management
- C.
- Water resources
- D.
- Use of energy
3.2.2. Phase of Handling
- A.
- Non-sellable products and surpluses
- B.
- Packaging
- C.
- Water resources
- D.
- Use of energy
- E.
- Refrigeration chambers
- F.
- Transport from the handling centre to the destination
4. Discussion and Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Scope | Measures |
---|---|
Waste | Composting of residual biomass |
Sending of biomass to an adjacent anaerobic digestion plant | |
The replacement of conventional plastic elements with bioplastic alternatives | |
The separation and appropriate storage of waste and packaging of phytosanitary products so as to avoid possible leachings and indirect contact with the soil, plants and water | |
The sending of all the materials that are contaminated to authorised companies specialised in their treatment | |
The transfer of all non-contaminating plastics to recycling plants | |
Water resources | Correctly determining the water needs of the crops |
Incorporating irrigation programming systems that contemplate the water demands of the crops and the availability of water in the root area | |
Using irrigation practices that maximise the efficiency indices in the consumption of water such as micro-irrigation or closed circuit systems | |
Energy efficiency | Using energy from renewable sources |
Applying a dynamic control of the climate parameters in the inside of the greenhouse taking into account the external climate conditions | |
Choosing the right lining materials to improve the covering of the greenhouse | |
Taking into account the orientation and position of the windows in new facilities and of the existing ones in the case of replacement | |
Incorporating cooling measures in the greenhouses located in dry and warm climates (whitewashing to reduce solar radiation, installing evaporation techniques such as evaporation screens or nebulisation) | |
Using natural ventilation | |
Installing geothermal heating systems for greenhouses located in cold climates where necessary | |
Using appropriate illumination equipment, taking into account the local climate conditions and the influence of this equipment on the inside temperature |
Scope | Measures |
---|---|
Food waste | Undertaking total production maintenance |
Applying the Kaizen method | |
Elaborating a Value Stream Map | |
Packaging | Ecological design to simulate the environmental behaviour of the packaging during the design |
Researching options to reduce the weight of the packaging without losing its protective characteristics | |
Opting for more loose produce packaging | |
Using reusable and returnable packages | |
Producing packages using recycled or bioplastic materials | |
Energy efficiency | Implementing an integrated energy management system (for example, ISO regulation 50001) |
Incorporating metres in each of the processes in order to guarantee a precise control of the energy used | |
Carrying out periodic audits and energy monitoring to identify the principal sources of energy consumption | |
Introducing appropriate energy efficiency solutions in the different processes considering the possible synergies in the demand for heat, refrigeration and steam | |
Studying and, if feasible, exploiting synergies for the production and use of electricity, heat, refrigeration and steam with neighbouring facilities (industrial symbiosis) | |
Refrigeration chambers | Selecting the appropriate temperatures in accordance with the product needs |
Previously cooling the hot/warm products before placing them in the cooling facilities | |
Reducing the volume of products or ingredients in cool storage | |
Preventing thermal leaks by sealing doors | |
Systematically compiling data on the heat load, energy consumption and leak rates and implementing a periodic maintenance and inspection plan | |
Replacing the hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) with refrigerants with a lower global warming potential (natural refrigerants) | |
Agreeing with the supplier of the equipment a guarantee of an absence of leaks for several years | |
Recovering and reusing the residual heat generated by the refrigeration unit or other processes that produce residual heat | |
Selecting equipment, control systems and a factory design that enable a minimum energy consumption and prevent thermal losses and leaks, in the cases where new facilities are constructed | |
Transport from the wholesale company to the destination | Green procurement and the establishment of environmental requirements for transport companies |
Monitoring the efficiency and information related to all of the transport and logistics activities | |
Considering the efficiency of the transport in the decision on the origin of the products and the design of the packaging | |
Opting for more efficient modes of transport (rail, sea) | |
Optimising the storage and transport routes | |
Minimising the environmental impact of the road transport vehicles through decisions on the supply and retrofitting of the equipment (conversion of engines to natural gas or biogas in the case of the large lorries) |
Problems | Theoretical Solution | Practical Experience | Level of Implementation in the Area of Study |
---|---|---|---|
Large volume Pollution Plagues and diseases | Transformation into other products | Recycling by authorised management companies | Widely used |
BioREFINA | Under development | ||
AGRIREFIN | |||
Generation of bioenergy | AGRIREFIN | Under development | |
ENCE | |||
Animal feed | Delivered directly to livestock farmers | Not applied | |
Production of animal feed | Not applied | ||
Re-use on the farm | Green manure | Low level of implementation | |
Self-composting |
Problems | Theoretical Solution | Practical Experience | Level of Implementation in the Area of Study |
---|---|---|---|
High volume Pollution | Transformation into other products | Recycling through a management company | Widely used |
REINWASTE | Under development | ||
RECOVER | |||
AP WASTE | |||
SIGFITO | Widely used | ||
Generation of fuel | Plastic Energy | Widely used | |
Hintes Oil Europa | |||
Use of more efficient materials | REINWASTE | Under development | |
BIOMULCH | |||
Extension of useful life | Under development | ||
Reuse | Return systems | Widely used |
Problems | Theoretical Solution | Practical Experience | Level of Implementation in the Area of Study |
---|---|---|---|
Water scarcity Water pollution | Improvement in the efficiency of irrigation | Automatic irrigation | Widely used |
Localised irrigation | |||
Use of tensiometers | |||
Recirculation systems | |||
Efficient use of water in greenhouse horticultural crops | |||
iGUESS-MED | Under development | ||
Use of treated water | REUSAGUA | In expansion | |
LIFE-ENRICH |
Problems | Theoretical Solution | Practical Experience | Level of Implementation in the Area of Study |
---|---|---|---|
Low level of control of climate conditions in the greenhouse Dependence on non-renewable energy | Energy efficiency | Renewable energy sources | Under development |
Whitewashing | Widely used | ||
Natural ventilation | |||
Nebulisation | |||
New systems | Under development |
Problems | Theoretical Solution | Practical Experience | Level of Implementation in the Area of Study |
---|---|---|---|
Economic losses Food waste Generation and management of waste | Planning and consultancy | Planting calendar | Widely used |
Selection of varieties | |||
Technical consulting | |||
Naturdev | Under development | ||
Transformation into other products | BIOVEGE | Low level of implementation | |
NATURPICK | Under development | ||
Animal feed | Frutilados del Poniente | In expansion | |
Sold as raw material | Canning firms/frozen food companies | Widely used | |
Generation of bioenergy | Not applied |
Problems | Theoretical Solution | Practical Solution | Level of Implementation in the Area of Study |
---|---|---|---|
High consumption of plastic materials Pollution | Use of biodegradable containers | YPACK | Low level of implementation |
Futamura | |||
Replacement with loose produce packaging or other formats that use less materials | Low level of implementation | ||
Reuse | Returnable container system | Widely used | |
Transformation into other products | REINWASTE | Under development | |
RECOVER |
Problems | Theoretical Solution | Practical Experience | Level of Implementation in the Area of Study |
---|---|---|---|
Water scarcity Water pollution | Water recycling and recirculation | Vam Watertech | In expansion |
agroTITANIUM |
Problems | Theoretical Solution | Practical Experience | Level of Implementation in the Area of Study |
---|---|---|---|
Loss of energy in the processes Non-renewable energies | Recovery of heat in the processes where it is possible | TeSLA | Low level of implementation |
Use of more efficient energies | TeSLA | Low level of implementation | |
Cogeneration plant | |||
Clean energies | Photovoltaic panels | Low level of implementation |
Problems | Theoretical Solution | Practical Experience | Level of Implementation in the Area of Study |
---|---|---|---|
High energy consumption Use of harmful materials | Energy efficiency | Temperature regulation | Widely used |
Preventing leaks | |||
Reusing residual heat generated by the refrigeration unit | Low level of implementation | ||
Use of renewable energy sources | Photovoltaic panels | Low level of implementation | |
Replacement of harmful materials with non-harmful ones | Replacement of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) with natural refrigerants | In expansion |
Problems | Theoretical Solution | Practical Experience | Level of Implementation in the Area of Study |
---|---|---|---|
Pollution Dependence on one mode of transport | More efficient alternatives | Fresh Fruit And Vegetables Logistics | Low level of implementation |
Mediterranean Corridor | Not applied | ||
Logistics planning | Synergies between companies | Low level of implementation |
© 2020 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
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Aznar-Sánchez, J.A.; Velasco-Muñoz, J.F.; García-Arca, D.; López-Felices, B. Identification of Opportunities for Applying the Circular Economy to Intensive Agriculture in Almería (South-East Spain). Agronomy 2020, 10, 1499. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10101499
Aznar-Sánchez JA, Velasco-Muñoz JF, García-Arca D, López-Felices B. Identification of Opportunities for Applying the Circular Economy to Intensive Agriculture in Almería (South-East Spain). Agronomy. 2020; 10(10):1499. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10101499
Chicago/Turabian StyleAznar-Sánchez, José A., Juan F. Velasco-Muñoz, Daniel García-Arca, and Belén López-Felices. 2020. "Identification of Opportunities for Applying the Circular Economy to Intensive Agriculture in Almería (South-East Spain)" Agronomy 10, no. 10: 1499. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10101499