ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Ecological Footprints and CO2 Emissions
of Tomato Production in Slovenia
Denis Stajnko1, Michael Narodoslawsky2, Miran Lakota1
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1Institute for Biosystem Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Maribor,
Pivola 10, SI-2311 Hoče, Slovenia
2Institute for Resource Effi cient and Sustainable Systems, Technical University Graz,
Inffeldgasse 21 B, A-8010 Graz, Austria
Submission date: 2014-09-24
Final revision date: 2015-10-08
Acceptance date: 2016-02-10
Publication date: 2016-05-25
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2016;25(3):1233-1243
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ABSTRACT
The intensification of vegetable production has led to economic activities that profoundly influence
the ecosystem. Measuring the environmental impact of these activities is important. Tomato (Solanum
lycopersicum L.) production for fresh consumption grown under greenhouse, PE tunnel, and in open fields
– as well as organic production – was used for estimating ecological footprint and CO2 emissions. The
reduction of food miles by introducing local production in Slovenia and the impact of alternative heating
systems were considered, applying SPIonWeb software. The introduction of regional production (250 km)
could reduce the ecological footprint of transport by up to 83.33% in comparison with transcontinental
transport (1,500 km). Using alternative heating with geothermal energy might additionally reduce the impact
of heating substantially. For the lower heating requirement of PE tunnel production, fossil fuels might be
successfully replaced by pellets; thus, the footprint could be reduced by 61.88% in relation to fossil fuels.