Work

Optimizing Vineyard Sustainability for Climate-Smart Food Systems: An Integrated Carbon Footprint and DEA Approach

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: The sustainability of the wine sector depends on primary production practices and on the adaptability of plant material to climate change. This study evaluates the carbon footprint and technical efficiency of four grape varieties in Paionia using an integrated Life Cycle Assessment and Data Envelopment Analysis framework. A cradle-to-gate approach was adopted, with system boundaries extending from input production to harvest, and functional units of kg CO2e/ha to capture input intensity and kg CO2e/kg grape to assess product-level environmental efficiency. The analysis included 82 vineyards, with DEA scores ranging from 0.744 to 1.000; most vineyards operated below the efficiency frontier, and the input-oriented VRS model identified potential input reductions without affecting output. Merlot showed the highest footprint (3794.02 kg CO2e/ha), followed by Assyrtiko (2798.40) and Xinomavro (2784.48), while Roditis had the lowest (1958.07); on a per-kg basis, emissions were 0.340, 0.304, 0.281, and 0.143 kg CO2e/kg respectively. The DEA identified targeted input-saving opportunities, including reduced irrigation needs in white varieties and lower nutrient and plant-protection requirements in red varieties, while the strong performance of Roditis highlights the advantages of locally adapted, low-input plant material for improving efficiency.

Source: Sustainability

DOI: 10.3390/su18073277

Authors: Eleni Adam, Athanasia Mavrommati, Alexandra Pliakoura, Angelos Patakas, Fotios Chatzitheodoridis

Institutions: University of Patras, University of Western Macedonia

Language: English

Topic: Environmental Impact and Sustainability

Subfield: Environmental Engineering

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Responsible consumption and production, Climate action, Zero hunger

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,896