Safflower seed production in semi-arid regions and greenhouse gas emissions

The cultivation of safflower for biofuel production can help to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and promote sustainable agriculture, particularly in semi-arid regions where water resources are limited or where other crops are not well-suited to the local climate and soil conditions. This study applied the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology to quantify the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with the farming of safflower seeds at an experimental plot located in Northeast Brazil (semi-arid region). The functional unit considered herein is the production of safflower seeds at a 5000 m² area, considering one crop cycle (82 days). Simapro software was used, following ISO 14040 and ISO 14044, using the Ecoinvent database and environmental impact assessment method IPCC 2021 GWP 100y. The attributional LCA encompassed soil preparation, fertilization, irrigation, and harvesting. The GHG emissions associated with safflower seed production were 578.49 kg CO₂-eq, and considering the productivity of 1185 kg of seeds, the specific emissions were 0.4882 kg CO₂-eq/kg of safflower seed harvested. The highest emissions were associated with the preparation of soil (322.8 kg CO₂-eq), followed by water consumption (115.52 kg CO₂-eq), fertilization (109.16 kg CO₂-eq), the harvest of seeds (23.52 kg CO₂-eq), and finally the material composition of the irrigation system (7.50 kg CO₂-eq). It was verified that tackling the GHG emissions associated with soil preparation and fertilization should be the focus of future research efforts to further reduce the emissions and increase the environmental competitiveness of safflower seeds as biofuel feedstock. Graphical abstract: (Figure presented.)