LIFE CYCLE METHODOLOGIES AND SOCIAL AGRARIAN METABOLISM APPROACH TO ASSESS AGROECOLOGY PRACTICES IN MEDITERRANEAN OLIVE GROWING: A METHODOLOGICAL FRAMEWORK IN THE INTERNATIONAL “SUSTAINOLIVE” PROJECT

In the Mediterranean basin, olive growing has a multiple importance since it ecologically, economically, and socially identifies the rural regions as a significant asset for several territorial development opportunities. Nevertheless, high production costs and low market prices of olive oil are critical aspects for the olive sector. The intensification of the olive production has tried to solve these problems. However, it has resulted in oversimplified landscapes with low-nature-value, driving greater negative environmental impacts. This paper illustrates the rationale behind a new methodological proposal for sustainability assessment within the international ongoing project “SUSTAINOLIVE” (funded by PRIMA-H2020 programme), based on the integration of Social Agrarian Metabolism (SAM) and Life Cycle approaches to evaluate the environmental and socio-economic performances of different olive farms by comparing “agro-ecological” and “ordinary” management practices.