Analysis of the Environmental Impact of Different Olive Grove Systems in Southern Portugal

Olive grove production systems in Portugal have undergone major changes, with both high-density and super-high-density systems being implemented. Despite their higher productivity, they raise questions about their environmental impacts. Thus, this article aims to assess the environmental impacts of six olive grove systems in the Alentejo region, under different technological solutions, using a life cycle assessment (LCA) approach. Five impact categories were selected, using the hectare as the functional unit. Super-high-density systems that use a high level of inputs, mechanical harvesting, and irrigation have the highest environmental impacts for all impact categories, while traditional systems showed the lowest results in terms of environmental impacts. The greatest environmental impacts in olive production occur in the agricultural phase, and our results corroborate the literature results showing that the greatest damage is due to fertilization operations. In addition, this study provides a better understanding of the environmental impacts of olive grove production in the Portuguese context, as well as in the Mediterranean area, and the results allowed us to identify the most sustainable technological solutions. These are related to management strategies that promote the equalization of impacts for each type of production system, considering the necessary agricultural practices and ways of acting to mitigate these impacts. Adopting sustainable technological solutions can become a strategy for agriculture focused on environmental recovery rather than degradation, ensuring the availability of resources for future generations.