Environmental and economic assessment of white corn production in Guanajuato

Abstract

The environmental and economic aspects of white corn production in Guanajuato between 2016 and 2020 were studied. The factors that significantly contribute to the environmental impact of irrigated (MR) and rainfed (MT-450) corn production, as well as the profitability of production and its contribution to local self-sufficiency of this grain, were determined. The environmental impact was evaluated using the life cycle assessment methodology, with one tonne of grain as the functional unit; emissions were estimated using Ecoinvent v 3.9, and the environmental impact indicators were estimated using ReCiPe 2016 v 1.1. The economic analysis was performed with an optimization model that seeks the maximum gross income with constraints on food self-sufficiency, soil, and water. Irrigated and rainfed corn have loads of 871 and 244 kg CO₂eq t^-1 respectively, for the climate change indicator. In irrigated corn, the environmental impact is primarily associated with high electricity consumption for water extraction and distribution. In rainfed corn, the environmental impact is associated with the disproportion between production and inputs. In the economic analysis, it was estimated that local corn production meets 83% of the total demand for the grain. The benefit/cost ratio for rainfed and irrigated corn was estimated at 1.48 and 0.8, respectively. Agricultural profitability is conditioned by prices and the market: with a 3% change in the irrigated area of cereals, a 50% increase in the demand for vegetables can be met.