A Comparative Water Footprint Analysis of Conventional versus Organic Citrus Production: A Case Study in Spain

Alberto Imbernón-Mulero, Victoriano Martínez-Alvarez, Saker Ben Abdallah, Belén Gallego-Elvira and José F. Maestre-Valero ()
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Alberto Imbernón-Mulero: Agricultural Engineering Center, Technical University of Cartagena, Paseo Alfonso XIII 48, 30203 Cartagena, Spain
Victoriano Martínez-Alvarez: Agricultural Engineering Center, Technical University of Cartagena, Paseo Alfonso XIII 48, 30203 Cartagena, Spain
Saker Ben Abdallah: Agricultural Engineering Center, Technical University of Cartagena, Paseo Alfonso XIII 48, 30203 Cartagena, Spain
Belén Gallego-Elvira: Agricultural Engineering Center, Technical University of Cartagena, Paseo Alfonso XIII 48, 30203 Cartagena, Spain
José F. Maestre-Valero: Agricultural Engineering Center, Technical University of Cartagena, Paseo Alfonso XIII 48, 30203 Cartagena, Spain

Agriculture, 2024, vol. 14, issue 7, 1-17

Abstract: Spain is the leading citrus producer in the European Union, with the Segura River Basin in southeastern Spain playing a crucial role in this industry. However, the impact of local agricultural production on water appropriation has been overlooked. This study assesses the water footprint (WF) of both conventional and organic citrus production using the Water Footprint Network approach, addressing beneficial practices aiming to reduce the water appropriation impact. Focusing on four citrus fields, the evaluation covers green, blue, and grey components of the WF, and secondary impacts from electricity and fossil fuel consumption, which are usually omitted from the WF assessments. The results indicate that the total WF for organic orange and lemon production is over 19% lower than for the conventional system. Notable differences are observed in the blue component, attributed to the use of vegetative mulches, and in the grey component due to the reduced impact of fertilizers in organic practices. The individual and total WF values are lower than those reported in other citrus studies, and are linked to efficient resource management in semi-arid regions that helps overcome water scarcity. Nevertheless, the sustainability analysis reveals major challenges for the citrus sector in the basin, highlighting the strain on resources given the limited water availability. The available water remaining (AWARE) indicator demonstrates extremely high potential water deprivation in the area. Overall, the study underscores the necessity of integrating WF analyses in agricultural planning to manage resource scarcity effectively. Future research should focus on developing precise methodologies and incorporating unconventional farming practices to enhance sustainability. This research provides valuable insights for stakeholders aiming to optimize water use in agriculture under scarce resource conditions.

Keywords: irrigated agriculture; water scarcity; water consumption; Segura River Basin; sustainability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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