Organic versus conventional farming: the case of wheat production in Wallonia

(in lingua inglese)

Using the LCA methodology, this study aimed at comparing the environmental impacts of organic and conventional
production of wheat. Results are very sensitive to the choice of the functional unit. When compared on the basis of the mass (kg), organically cropped wheat seems to induce more environmental impacts than conventionally cropped wheat in terms of acidification, eutrophication, land occupation and photo-oxidants formation. Overall the most influential parameter seems to be the yield. With yields among the highest in the world, the well mastered production of conventional wheat in Wallonia shows smaller impacts than lower yielding organic wheat.