Greenhouse Gas Emissions for Different Harvesting, Rising, and Transportation Methods of Oil Palm Fresh Fruit Bunches

Oil palm plantations have made the transition from animal traction methods to mechanized systems in order to increase crop productivity. However, the environmental impact related to the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions generated by this type of energy-source transition is not yet known. Therefore, this study estimated the GHG emissions reported in five case studies using different methods for fresh fruit bunches (FFBs) collection, transport to the stockpile area, rising, and transport to the palm oil mill. The cases examined considered partially mechanized methods (cableway and tractors), the use of buffalos, and the mechanized system known as grabber method. The guidelines established by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the ISO 14067 standard were followed. The lowest emissions were reported by the grabber method (3.2 kg CO2eq/t FFB). The emissions generated by cableway systems showed variations between 5.7 and 7.9 kg CO2eq/t FFB, according to plantation size, the use of fossil fuels, and the number of buffalos associated with this system. The processes that generate the most GHG are enteric fermentation, buffalo manure management, and the use of fossil fuels. The importance of quantifying GHG emissions for different crop activities is necessary to reduce the negative effects of the tasks involved in the production of raw material within the Colombian crude palm oil supply chain.