Spatial expansion of avocado in Mexico: Could the energy use of pruning residues offset orchard GHG emissions?

Raúl Tauro, Silvina Manrique, Iván Franch-Pardo, Juan F. Charre-Medellin, Cristian E. Ortega-Riascos, José A. Soria-González and Cynthia Armendáriz-Arnez ()
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Raúl Tauro: Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM)
Silvina Manrique: Universidad Nacional de Salta (UNSa)
Iván Franch-Pardo: Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
Juan F. Charre-Medellin: Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
Cristian E. Ortega-Riascos: Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
José A. Soria-González: Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo (UMSNH)
Cynthia Armendáriz-Arnez: Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM)

Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, 2024, vol. 26, issue 11, No 10, 27325-27350

Abstract: Abstract Avocado orchards (Persea americana) in Mexico are constantly being expanded to meet the increasing demand for the fruit in the national and international markets. The land-use change (LUC) caused by this expansion has numerous negative impacts, including greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions due to the loss of forest cover and the burning of pruning residues. To generate a comprehensive evaluation of this complex environmental issue, we calculate emissions from LUC and from residue burning between 1974 and 2017 at a local scale (1:20,000), and the energy potential of pruning residues was estimated as an alternative to revalue a waste product and mitigate the negative impacts of avocado cultivation. Our results show that land-use conversions emitted 390.5 GgCO2, of which 91% came from conversions to avocado orchards. Emissions of GHG from biomass burning amounted to an additional 20.68 GgCO2e released per year. Given that around 12,600 tons of dry avocado pruning residues are generated annually in the study region, their use for energy generation could replace 240 TJ/year of fossil fuels in rural industries and could mitigate around 31 GgCO2e per year. This study provides decision-makers with a concrete example of how to establish multiple-impact strategies at local scales.

Keywords: Avocado orchards; Biomass; Land-use change; Environmental impact; Pruning; Industrial biomass (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1007/s10668-023-03762-4

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