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Horticulture · Environment · Footprint

Emissions intensity

0.15 t CO₂e/t fruit

The greenhouse-gas footprint relative to output — tonnes of CO₂-equivalent (from soil nitrogen, fertiliser manufacture, diesel and refrigeration) emitted per tonne of fruit produced.

Worked example · t CO₂e per t fruit · 4-year trend
Industry avg 0.20 0.19 0.15 2023 2024 2025 2026
t CO₂e per t fruit · 4-year trend
The benchmark

Fresh fruit generally carries a low emissions intensity per tonne, dominated by nitrogen fertiliser, diesel and on-farm refrigeration; perennial orchards also lock up carbon in permanent woody structure.

Agriculture Victoria — Climate ↗
What it signals

Because much of the footprint is nitrogen and energy, emissions intensity tracks nitrogen productivity and irrigation efficiency closely — the same practices that stop losses also cut emissions per tonne. As retailers and exporters begin asking for footprint data, it also protects market access.

Data required to calculate
Fruit producedtNitrogen appliedkg NFuel and energy use$

Silo pulls each of these from the sources the operation already uses, and keeps the figure current automatically.

How to improve it
01

Lift nitrogen productivity to cut soil and fertiliser emissions per tonne.

02

Move cold storage and pumps toward efficient and renewable energy.

03

Cut diesel per tonne through efficient orchard operations.

Questions & answers

What is emissions intensity?

The greenhouse-gas footprint relative to output — tonnes of CO₂-equivalent (from soil nitrogen, fertiliser manufacture, diesel and refrigeration) emitted per tonne of fruit produced.

What data do you need to calculate emissions intensity?

You need: Fruit produced (t), Nitrogen applied (kg N), Fuel and energy use ($). Silo pulls each of these from the sources the operation already uses and keeps the figure current automatically.

What is a good emissions intensity benchmark?

Fresh fruit generally carries a low emissions intensity per tonne, dominated by nitrogen fertiliser, diesel and on-farm refrigeration; perennial orchards also lock up carbon in permanent woody structure.

How do you improve emissions intensity?

Lift nitrogen productivity to cut soil and fertiliser emissions per tonne. Move cold storage and pumps toward efficient and renewable energy. Cut diesel per tonne through efficient orchard operations.

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