Environmental sustainability and quality assessment of new raspberry genotypes cultivated in a soilless system

Abstract

Sustainable and high-quality raspberry production is a priority in Europe, but breeding programs often focus solely on yield and nutritional qualities. This study addresses this gap by evaluating the environmental performance of new raspberry genotypes grown in soilless high tunnels (Italy) using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) based on the ISO 14040/44 standards. A cradle-to-farm gate assessment was conducted to analyze the environmental impact of these new genotypes during standard production cycles for floricanes (field trial 1) and primocanes (field trial 2). Primary data from the nursery and cultivation phases were used. The functional unit (FU) selected was 1 kg of fresh raspberry, and environmental impacts were evaluated using the Environmental Footprint 3.1 method. Additionally, various quality parameters, including marketable yield, shelf-life, and taste, were assessed for each genotype. Results indicate similar environmental performance for field trial 1 and field trial 2. Electricity for storing sowing material dominated the nursery phase, while infrastructure was the main contributor during cultivation. Adjusting impact scores for quality parameters also revealed differences in environmental performance ranking among the new cultivars. This study expands the knowledge of environmental sustainability in raspberry production and highlights the importance of including environmental considerations in breeding programs for a multi-criteria approach to selecting breeding materials.