A Comparative Environmental and Economic Analysis of Table and Dried Grape Production: The Case of Manisa Province, Türkiye

Abstract

Grape cultivation generates significant greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions due to the considerable demand for fertilizers, labor, water, and other inputs. The intensive input utilization not only contributes to elevated GHG emissions but also poses challenges to the economic sustainability of the farms. The aim of this study was to conduct a comparative environmental and economic analysis of table grape and dried grape production. Primary data for this study were collected through face-to-face surveys of 128 grape farmers, selected using a stratified sampling method. The partial budget analysis method was used to estimate the economic indicators of grape production. We calculated GHG emissions to measure the environmental impact of table and dried grape production using the life cycle assessment method. The cost of producing table grapes was estimated at USD 6383.50 per hectare, while the cost of producing dried grapes was USD 6125.15 per hectare. For table grapes, the gross domestic product (GDP), gross profit, and net profit were USD 12,414.26/ha, USD 8490.90/ha, and USD 6030.77/ha, respectively. In comparison, dried grapes had a GDP of USD 10,302.67/ha, a gross profit of USD 6805.47/ha, and a net profit of USD 4177.52/ha. Table grape production emitted 4758.64 kg CO2-eq per hectare, whereas dried grape production emitted 4066.29 kg CO2-eq per hectare. The study concludes that table grape production generated 14.55% more GHG emissions than dried grape production. Although table grape production was found to be more profitable, it also resulted in higher GHG emissions due to its more intensive input use. The findings indicate that producing 1 kg of table grapes emitted 0.18 kg CO2-eq, whereas producing 1 kg of dried grapes emitted 0.67 kg CO2-eq. Furthermore, the study revealed that generating USD 1 of income from table grapes resulted in 0.38 kg CO2-eq, compared to 0.39 kg CO2-eq for dried grapes. These results are crucial for balancing profitability and environmental impact in agricultural production.