Comparative analysis of carbon footprint between conventional smallholder operation and innovative largescale farming of urban agriculture in Beijing, China

Abstract

The sustainable development of agriculture is one of the key issues of ensuring food security and mitigating climate change. Since innovative large-scale agriculture is gaining popularity in cities in China, where the agricultural landscape is dominated by conventional smallholder farming, it is necessary to investigate the difference in carbon emissions between conventional smallholder operation and innovative largescale agriculture. This study evaluated the carbon footprint (CF) of conventional and innovative urban agriculture in Beijing using the cradle-to-consumption Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). Two modes of greenhouse vegetable and fruit production were analyzed and compared respectively: conventional smallholder operated vegetable farms that sell in local markets versus largescale home-delivery agriculture (HDA) that deliver vegetables to consumers’ home directly, conventional smallholder operated fruit farms that sell in farm shops versus largescale pick-your-own (PYO) initiatives. Results showed that HDA and PYO can reduce CF per area in on-farm cultivation compared to smallholder operation, while may bring an increase in CF per product weight unit and the gap was wider if the supply chain was considered. This is mainly because innovative large-scale farming consumes fewer agricultural inputs (e.g., fertilizer, pesticides) and obtains lower yields than conventional smallholder operations. Plastic materials with high carbon emission, fossil energy dependence and transportation efficiency are CF hotspots of both modes and therefore can be prioritized and targeted for carbon reduction adjustment. The results of this work further advance understanding of how innovative largescale agriculture and conventional smallholder operation compare and which particular inputs and activities should be prioritized to effectively reduce the CF in China during agricultural transformation.