Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 14.9.
Composition of the variable costs of conventional greenhouse tomato production in Spain
and Belgium with yields of 14 kg m
−2
in Spain (unheated plastic greenhouse) and 55 kg m
−2
in Belgium
(glasshouse with climate control). (Source: Benoit, 1990 and personal communication; Calatrava-
Requena
et al
., 2001; Castilla
et al
., 2004.)
Spain
Belgium
Percentage of total
variable costs
Percentage of total
variable costs
Variable costs
Cost (
€
kg
−1
)
Cost (
€
kg
−1
)
Natural gas
(heating + CO
2
)
-
-
8.80
35.0
Salaries
0.92
46.0
10.91
43.4
Plant
0.17
8.5
2.00
8.0
Fertilizers and
pesticides
0.65
32.5
1.37
5.4
Irrigation
0.13
6.5
-
a
-
Others
0.13
6.5
2.06
82
Total
2.00
100.0
25.14
100.0
a
Water for greenhouse irrigation in Belgium comes from previously stored rainwater.
which the following have notable economic
impact: (i) companies that supply produc-
tion inputs; (ii) commercialization compa-
nies; and (iii) banks and credit cooperatives,
etc. The multiplying effect of protected
horticultural systems on the surrounding
economic system is very important.
Important research and development
efforts during recent decades have allowed
for improvements in the efficient use of
resources like water (see Chapter 11), so
that water management, which up until
now was oriented towards making the best
use of what was available, is now more ori-
ented towards the management of what the
crop demands (Scoullos, 2003).
In general, greenhouse cultivation gen-
erates internal type residues, present in any
kind of agricultural activity, which affect
soil and water, and external type of resi-
dues, such as plastics, plant waste and other
residues (e.g. substrate waste, greenhouse
wires, supports, etc.).
Although plant waste was not tradi-
tionally considered as a residue, the vast
accumulation of plant waste in areas where
there is a high density of greenhouses has
forced many to consider it as a residue
(Escobar, 1998), even in legal terms (Parra
et al
., 2001).
Greenhouse horticultural systems have
a great multiplying effect on the surround-
ing economic system. However, these
systems also generate several negative
externalities mainly of the environmen-
tal kind, which constitute the basis of their
most negative aspects. Although several
research studies have been initiated on this
subject, it would be desirable to investigate
14.2
Environmental Analysis
14.2.1
Introduction
Nowadays, it is becoming increasingly clear
that any economic activity must be at the
service of sustainable development, in gen-
eral, and the protection of the environment,
in particular. Sustainable development
must be understood as one that satisfies
present requirements without compromis-
ing the possibilities of future generations to
satisfy their needs.
High quality vegetable production is
nowadays conceived in a broad sense in
such a way that, besides providing nutritive
value, health guarantees, etc., production
must also have been achieved with mini-
mum environmental impact (Galdeano,
2002). 'Minimal environmental impact'
must include a better use of natural resources
and the reduction of the residues generated.
