Joint life cycle assessment and data envelopment analysis for the benchmarking of energy, exergy, environmental effects, and water footprint in the canned apple supply chain

The present investigation is designed to analyze the energy consumption rate, cumulative exergy demand (CExD), water footprint, and environmental impacts in canned apple production using life cycle assessment (LCA) technique. Data envelopment analysis (DEA) was also used to identify effective measures in increasing apple orchard efficiency. The needed information was collected through questionnaires and face-to-face interviews in 2020 in the West Azerbaijan state of Iran. The result showed that energy consumption in apple production was 60,026.48 MJha- 1. According to the DEA findings, the efficiency of apple orchards in the research area is low, and micronutrients and phosphate have the most potential to reduce. Furthermore, the number of efficient units based on technical performance, net performance and performance scale were 35, 93 and 35. There is a potential saving of 6073.15 MJha- 1 of energy. Economic indices such as net return, benefit-tocost ratio, and investment productivity were 3391.99 $ha- 1, 1.75, and 6.003 kg$-1, respectively. The results of LCA+DEA illustrated that abiotic depletion has the greatest potential for reduction among environmental indicators, with a reduction rate of 35%. CExD outcomes determined that the rates of non-renewable fossil (812.16 MJt- 1) for apple gardens mostly come from nitrogen and diesel fuel.

Automated summary

This study evaluates the energy consumption, cumulative exergy demand, water footprint, and environmental impacts of canned apple production using life cycle assessment. Data envelopment analysis is also applied to identify strategies for improving apple orchard efficiency. Questionnaires and interviews were conducted in the West Azerbaijan state of Iran to gather necessary data. The study findings reveal a low efficiency of apple orchards in the research area, with micronutrients and phosphate identified as having the highest potential for reduction. Cost-saving potentials and economic indicators were also determined. The results show that abiotic depletion can be significantly reduced, and non-renewable fossil fuel consumption in apple gardens mainly comes from nitrogen and diesel fuel.