Un software per la valutazione di sostenibilità delle filiere agro-energetiche

A software – called So.Fi.A. - for calculating energy expenditure and emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) has been developed to assess the cultivation phase of agro-energy chains. The software performs a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of agricultural products, that is considering the financial cost, the fossil energy expenditure and the GHG emissions. It is needed to insert with a guided procedure the cultivation inputs, the products obtained and other technical data. The outcome of the software includes the impact values by type of production factor and of operation; the Net Energy Balance; the amount of CO2eq per unit of energy produced, depending on whether or not the coproducts are exploited; the CO2 stocked in soil after that plant residues are buried. As application, the software So.Fi.A. is used to evaluate environmental sustainability of crop production carried out under Bioenergie project.