CO2 Emission in the Fresh Vegetables Chains: A Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Carbon footprint has become a widely used term and concept in the public debate on social responsibility towards a sustainable future. Carbon emissions reduction target represents a global challenge gaining the headlines around the world and pushing academic scientists to discuss actively possible technical innovations, economic consequences and environmental benefits. On the other hand consumers already have recognized a clear willingness to buy for the environmental and ethical dimensions of food products and policies for the primary sector, at the same time, have driven the above-described dynamics with greater resolution, recognizing the potential for an effective response to the squeeze in farm profit margins, supporting producers in their effort to leave the perimeter of commodities. However, Carbon footprint estimates largely differ across the literature, even though they refer to the same product, involving the same production processes. The present paper addresses explicitly the latter drawback, implementing a meta-analysis focused on fresh vegetables chain. The objective is assessing the uncertainty of `Carbon footprint' estimates, seeking a meaningful statistical description of the findings of a vast collection of studies. Our results show the large estimates variability across empirical studies and how they these estimates largely depend by certain study-specific characteristics, like methodology adopted.