At Mérieux NutriSciences | Blonk, we deliver data-driven Life Cycle Assessments (LCA) that empower companies to validate and improve their products’ environmental performance.
We recently assessed the environmental performance of an innovation in strawberry cultivation: Limore One, an innovative strawberry variety developed by Limgroup. The results support Limgroup with validation of the sustainability benefits and identify hotspots for further improvement.
Limgroup, a Dutch breeder and seed producer focused on asparagus and strawberries, has spent over a decade developing the innovative Limore One, a new F1 hybrid strawberry variety. Unlike conventional strawberries, which multiply through runners, small shoots that form new plants identical to the parent (clonally propagated), Limore One is grown directly from seed. The result is a high-quality, high-yielding, and uniform strawberry. Compared with conventional propagation, Limore One shortens the crop cycle significantly: plants can be grown from seed in just 16 weeks, versus up to 2 years with conventional methods. The shorter reproduction period reduces the need for plant protection products, energy, and other nursery resources. For example, fewer pesticide or fungicide applications are required to control diseases. These factors help lower the overall environmental impact.
To understand and quantify the environmental performance of their innovative product, Limgroup asked us to conduct an LCA of the environmental footprint of Limore One strawberries and conventional strawberries that are clonally propagated.
In the environmental assessment we studied the impact of producing 1 kg of Limore One strawberries and 1 kg of conventional strawberries. To ensure consistency, the assessment followed established methodologies and guidelines, such as the international ISO standards for LCA, the European Product Environmental Footprint Category Rules (PEFCR), and the HortiFootprint Category Rules (HFCR). This study has not been critically reviewed.
Primary data was collected for all key life cycle stages of both types of strawberries: seed production, nursery, and cultivation. Limore One and conventional strawberries were grown side-by-side in trial plots at all cultivation locations, enabling a transparent comparison in stable conditions. It should be noted that at the time of data collection, Limore One was still in trial phase, meaning that cultivation plots were small. Upscaling of the cultivation would most likely lead to more efficient practices, allowing Limore One to reach its full potential.
While the report provides a full environmental profile as evaluated through the internationally acknowledged ReCiPe midpoint methodology, interpretation focused on 3 impact categories that are especially relevant for strawberries:
This LCA study gives Limgroup a clear, data-driven picture of the environmental advantages of their innovative strawberry variety. With these insights, they can validate the sustainability benefits of their breeding strategy to customers, strengthen their market position, and at the same time identify hotspots for further improvement. This shows how LCA not only validates environmental performance but also provides a strong business case for innovation and sustainability leadership.
Developed through over a decade of R&D, Limore One is a seed-propagated hybrid strawberry designed for uniformity, resilience, and sustainability. Conventional strawberries may require up to 2 years of clonal propagation, often with intensive use of plant protection products to maintain plant health. Limore One, by contrast, can be cultivated from seed in just 16 weeks. This process not only saves time and resources but also reduces environmental impact. This process saves time and resources while reducing environmental impact. Thanks to heterosis (hybrid vigor), a phenomenon often seen in hybrid plants, Limore One shows promising advantages.
Get in touch with Eline to explore how data-driven insights can validate the environmental advantages of your product or innovation.