Embracing a life cycle assessment (LCA) approach to analyze the environmental impacts of almonds grown along a climatic gradient in Israel

Changing environmental conditions and the need to reduce the environmental impact of food systems highlight the importance of analyzing the direct and indirect environmental impacts of agricultural production systems. This paper embraces a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) approach Using a cradle to farm gate framework to analyze a range of environmental interactions of almond production in three climatic regions – Mediterranean, semi-arid, and arid. Data was collected from 94 farmers across the state of Israel, representing 75 % of the country's almond orchard area. Results show that producing 1 kg of almond kernel generates an average emission of 4.78 kg CO₂ eq., 0.02 kg SO₂, and 0.02 kg of N. Over 90 % of these emissions results from irrigation, fertilizers, and pest management. Additionally, significant differences between and within regions were observed, highlighting the influence of climate and farming practices on environmental outcomes. Notably, almond production in arid regions demonstrated both high yields and reduced emissions when reclaimed water was utilized, underlining the potential for climate-adaptive practices. By identifying major hotspots, this study provides a foundation for future detailed alternative methods, implementing farmers' best practices, and policy implications for promoting an adaptive and sustainable almond-growing system.