In the arid landscapes of Northern Nigeria, a critical question looms: how can vegetable production systems achieve net zero emissions while balancing economic viability? A recent study published in *Discover Agriculture* (which translates to *Kashf al-Ziraa* in English) offers compelling insights, evaluating the environmental and economic impacts of three distinct farming systems. Led by Taiwo Bintu Ayinde of Samaru College of Agriculture, Division of Agricultural Colleges, Ahmadu Bello University, the research sheds light on the trade-offs between cost, yield, energy efficiency, and environmental impact.
The study employs life cycle inventory methods to assess key performance metrics, including yield per land area, production costs, cumulative energy demand (CED), global warming potential (GWP), and water use (WU) for Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) in screen houses and field-based tomato production systems. The findings reveal a nuanced landscape of opportunities and challenges.
CEA, despite its high production cost of ₦24,070.80 per m², achieves the highest yield of 28.57 kg per m². “CEA demonstrates superior efficiency, exhibiting the lowest CED (0.025 MJ/kg) and GWP (0.76 kg CO₂-eq/kg),” Ayinde explains. This efficiency is a game-changer for the energy sector, as it highlights the potential for more sustainable and controlled cultivation methods that could reduce the carbon footprint of agricultural practices.
In contrast, rainfed field production, while having the lowest cost (₦58.45 per m²), results in the lowest yield (0.08 kg/m²) and the highest GWP (34,545.8%). Irrigated field production performs moderately, with a production cost of ₦150.38 per m², a yield of 0.22 kg per m², and a GWP of 12,572.4%. The study attributes the yield variation across production systems to the difference in tomato varieties cultivated in open-field and CEA environments. CEA relies on hybrid varieties optimized for controlled conditions, whereas open-field farming utilizes varieties adapted to outdoor environmental fluctuations.
The implications for the energy sector are profound. As the world grapples with climate change and resource constraints, the adoption of more efficient and controlled cultivation methods like CEA offers a potential pathway for sustainable and environmentally responsible agricultural practices. “This study underscores the advantages of CEA, providing a blueprint for future developments in the field,” Ayinde notes.
The research published in *Discover Agriculture* not only highlights the trade-offs between cost, yield, energy efficiency, and environmental impact but also paves the way for innovative solutions that could revolutionize agriculture in dryland climates. As the world moves towards net zero emissions, the insights from this study could shape the future of sustainable farming, offering a beacon of hope for regions facing climate and resource challenges.