Life cycle assessment of active spring frost protection methods in viticulture: A framework to compare different technologies

Abstract

In viticulture, the risk of spring frost is mainly due to earlier budbreak, increasing the vulnerability of buds and green organs to freezing temperatures. Active Spring Frost Protection Methods (ASFPMs) aim to mitigate this risk by increasing the temperature in the bud area. ASFPMs are often seen as highly labour-intensive and resource consuming practices. ASFPM technologies are diverse and influenced by different external drivers, affecting differently their application strategies and the required equipment for efficiency. This study proposes a framework for analysing and comparing ASFPMs’ potential environmental impacts using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology. We illustrate this proposal with an example: Winter cover, wind machine, sprinkler and anti-frost candles comparison in Loire Valley conditions. We modeled the attributional LCAs with Impact world + characterisation method using Abribalyse 3.1 and Ecoinvent 3.8 databases. Application and climatic scenarios were elaborated to set conditions of ASFPMs use. The overall combination of attributional LCAs and external scenarios designs a context-specific LCA. Required time of application for each ASFPM to protect 1 ha during frost hours was determined using linear regression of ASFPM application time in function of total seasonal frost hours based on a recent decade (2013–2023). Sensitivity analysis consisted in varying frost hours theoretically with a step of 1 unit, using the lowest and highest frost hour numbers from 2013 to 2023 as boundaries. Overall, the ranking between ASFPM environmental scores changes based on the theoretical frost duration. The implementation of context-specific elements allowed for the development of system boundaries in attributional LCA, enabling the analysis and comparison of different types of technologies. The framework of this study showed its relevance in the context of ASFPM technologies through a concrete example in Loire Valley viticulture. Future research may consider other contextual elements and ASFPM technologies. This framework could be used in different fields of study to analyse and compare contrasted technologies in terms of environmental impacts.