Huella de carbono del cultivo de rosas en Ecuador comparando dos metodologías: GHG Protocol vs. PAS 2050/ Carbon footprint of the cultivation of roses in Ecuador comparing two methodologies: GHG Protocol vs. PAS 2050

  Ecuador is the third largest exporter of roses worldwide. A key factor for the international competitiveness is to calculate and reduce greenhouse gases (GHG). For this reason, we calculated the carbon footprint (CF) of the cultivation of roses in Ecuador, taking as a case study the Company Ecoroses S.A. in the year 2015. The company is located in the canton Mejia, province of Pichincha, and dedicates 100% of its production to roses. The CF was calculated using two methodologies, GHG Protocol and PAS 2050, considering the limits of the system “from the cradle to the door”. The emission factors were compiled from international databases such as IPCC and Ecoinvent v2.2. The result of the CF was 3,75 kg CO2eq/kg of rose exported. The three sources of emission of GHG that most affect are: agricultural products (37,7%), electrical energy (13,3%), and the use of fossil fuels (10,95%). This CF doubles that of dry cocoa, and is more than 8 times higher than that of domestic bananas. Therefore, the implementation of good environmental practices is proposed to reduce GHG, specifically, organic fertilizers, energy saving, and biofuels.Ecuador es el tercer exportador de rosas a nivel mundial. Un factor clave para la competitividad internacional es calcular y reducir las emisiones de gases de efecto invernadero (GEI). Por ello, se calculó la huella de carbono (HC) del cultivo de rosas en Ecuador, tomando como caso de estudio la Empresa Ecoroses S.A. en el año 2015. La empresa está ubicada en el cantón Mejía, provincia de Pichincha y dedica el 100% de su producción a las rosas. La HC se calculó mediante dos metodologías: GHG Protocol y PAS 2050, considerando los límites del sistema “de la cuna a la puerta”. Los factores de emisión fueron recopilados de bases de datos internacionales como IPCC y Ecoinvent v2.2. El resultado de la HC fue de 3,75 kg CO2eq/kg de rosa exportada. Las tres fuentes de emisión de GEI que más afectan son: los productos agrícolas (37,7%), la energía eléctrica (13,3%) y el uso de combustibles fósiles (10,95%). Esta HC duplica a la del cacao seco y es más de 8 veces mayor que la del banano nacional. Por ello, se propone implementar buenas prácticas ambientales para reducir los GEI, en concreto, fertilizantes orgánicos, ahorro energético y biocombustibles. Abstract Ecuador is the third largest exporter of roses worldwide. A key factor for the international competitiveness is to calculate and reduce greenhouse gases (GHG). For this reason, we calculated the carbon footprint (CF) of the cultivation of roses in Ecuador, taking as a case study the Company Ecoroses S.A. in the year 2015. The company is located in the canton Mejia, province of Pichincha, and dedicates 100% of its production to roses. The CF was calculated using two methodologies, GHG Protocol and PAS 2050, considering the limits of the system “from the cradle to the door”. The emission factors were compiled from international databases such as IPCC and Ecoinvent v2.2. The result of the CF was 3,75 kg CO2eq/kg of rose exported. The three sources of emission of GHG that most affect are: agricultural products (37,7%), electrical energy (13,3%), and the use of fossil fuels (10,95%). This CF doubles that of dry cocoa, and is more than 8 times higher than that of domestic bananas. Therefore, the implementation of good environmental practices is proposed to reduce GHG, specifically, organic fertilizers, energy saving, and biofuels