Assessing the Environmental Sustainability of Organic Wine Grape Production with Qualified Designation of Origin in La Rioja, Spain

Abstract

Vineyards are significant demanders of fertilisers, pesticides, soil tillage and water. This study assessed the environmental profile of an organic grape production system with La Rioja qualified designation of origin using a cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment (LCA). The ReCiPe method was applied to assess the environmental impacts, while the Available WAter REmaining method was used to estimate the water scarcity. Additionally, the biodiversity loss, a global issue exacerbated by agricultural practices, was evaluated along with an ecosystem service indicator, pollination, to provide a more comprehensive analysis. This study employed two functional units: one kilogram of grapes and one hectare of land. The results revealed that the environmental impacts on global warming were more than ten times lower than those reported in most studies reviewed in the literature, primarily due to the effects of direct land use changes associated with pruning waste management. The total emissions in this category were 99.51 kg CO2 eq per hectare or 15.31 g CO2 eq per kilogram of grapes. Agrochemical-related emissions were identified as the environmental hotspot. The water scarcity was estimated at 48.4 litres per kilogram of grapes, mainly attributed to agrochemical dispersion. The biodiversity loss was largely driven by land transformation, with plants being the most impacted taxon. However, a high abundance of pollinators was observed in spring, contributing to improved grape quality and natural pest control. These findings could help highlight the environmental benefits of organic viticulture and the good practices implemented in this pilot.