Greenhouse production system choices: Is modern technology better for environment? Case study from Turkey

Year 2018, Volume: 11 Issue: 2, 25 - 28, 31.12.2018

Makbule Nisa Mencet Yelboga , Cengiz Sayın , Aytekin Kocak

Abstract

Tomato
is one of the most widely cultivated crops in the world. Turkey produces on
average almost 10 million tons of tomatoes annually.  Greenhouse tomato production in Turkey has
been significantly increasing in the last decade. However, environmental
concerns are increasing especially about greenhouse production. There is also a
misunderstanding among people that if a greenhouse is equipped with sophisticated
technological systems of production, this will lead an environmentally friendly
production because of more awareness, more certification, etc. However, studies
show that there is not a significant correlation between technological
investments and environmentally friendly practices. The empirical data used in
this article was gathered by a research project which was granted by TUBITAK
(Science and Technological Research Council of Turkey). A survey and
observation techniques were used as a data collection method. Meanwhile, “Life Cycle Assessment” method was used to
measure the impact of conventional farming and modern farming on the
environment. The significant finding of
the research is that even though profit obtained from unit area in a greenhouse
which is equipped with a sophisticated technology is higher than a low
technology greenhouse, there is a significant difference between high and low
tech greenhouse systems in terms of environmental
pollution

Keywords

Agriculture and ecology, life cycle assessment, technology, modern and conventional production

References

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