Assessing the environmental impact and sustainability of apple cultivation

Description

The environmental impact of apple production is determined by regional enviro-pedo-climatic features and socio-political factors, but can also be managed through cultivation practices and inputs. Pesticides typically have the greatest environmental impact, but energy use from operating machinery and the manufacturing processes used to create machinery, trellis and irrigation materials, fuel, and agrichemicals is also substantial. This chapter shows that apple production sustainability has increased for pest management and decreased for resource use. It demonstrates that high-density apple orchards require higher levels of infrastructure and resource inputs than older systems, and argues that enhancing biocontrol of pests and lengthening the usable life of equipment and infrastructure are important strategies for reducing environmental impact.

Table of contents

1 Introduction 2 Sustainability: definitions and trends 3 Environmental impacts of apple production 4 Studies of sustainable apple production 5 Regulatory and marketing schemes for sustainable orchard systems 6 Future trends and conclusion 7 Where to look for further information 8 References