Energy Use In Agriculture Research Articles

Green investment and its transformative impact on energy use in agriculture: A holistic approach towards carbon dioxide emissions

The extensive use of non-renewable energy sources in agriculture and associated unsustainable practices have contributed greatly to climate change issues. Africa's lack of green initiatives has exacerbated environmental pollution in the last decade. In that regard, this study investigates the transformative impact of green investment on carbon emissions in agriculture fueled by dependency on non-renewable energy use in the sector. It utilizes advanced econometric techniques, including dynamic ordinary least squares, fully modified ordinary least squares, and the causality tests to conduct a rigorous analysis. The findings reveal a concerning rise in agricultural pollution via crop and livestock production. However, green investment is found to have a positive impact on carbon dioxide emissions, hence a potent tool for significantly reducing carbon emissions. The causality analysis unveils a bidirectional causal relationship between green investment and agricultural pollution and a unidirectional causality between green investment and carbon emissions, shedding light on the complex interplay between these variables. Also, non-renewable energy is found to increase carbon emissions in the region. The outcomes of this research contribute valuable insights and lay a foundation for future research and policymakers to enhance the future of agricultural research and sustainability. It also offers a roadmap for developing effective policies that balance the immediate needs of the agricultural sector with the imperative of long-term environmental sustainability. Finally, it has a global significance on the relevance of green initiatives to boost sustainable agriculture and reduce pollution.

Attitude of farmer towards use of solar energy in agriculture

Attitude of farmer towards use of solar energy in agriculture

Estimating energy flows in the long run: Agriculture in the United States, 1800–2020

This article explores the methods of a prior larger research project to understand flows in the US energy economy, quantifying energy use across American history (1800–2020). As a case study, it uses a subset of this data—agricultural energy use—to examine the methods, sources, and problems around estimating the production and consumption of energy at a national level. By combining statistical data with primary sources (like government and private studies on livestock feed demands), we produce a database that sums all energy used both on-field and in the processing and production of food more generally—and offer several counterintuitive conclusions. Per-capita agricultural energy use actually fell between 1800 and 2020. During this time period, the overall per-capita energy expenditure on food (in processing and cooking) remained fairly steady. We conclude the article by noting various uses for the data in reframing long-term agricultural trends and their environmental impacts. Energy flows are a fundamental component of social metabolism research. What this paper adds to this work is an unusual American case, one in which per capita on-field energy use declined.

An evaluation of energy and carbon budgets in diverse cropping systems for sustainable diversification of rainfed uplands in India's eastern hill and plateau region

With increasing cost and use of energy in agriculture, the traditional practice of mono-cropping of rice in upland is neither sustainable nor eco-friendly. It is necessary to identify crop diversification options with high energy efficiency, productivity, and low global warming potential (GWP). In this experiment, an inclusive system analysis was accomplished for 3 years (2016–2019) of five mono-cropping production (MCP) systems namely rice (R), finger millet (FM), black gram (BG), horse gram (HG), pigeon pea (PP), and four intercropped systems viz. R+BG, R+HG, FM+ BG, and FM + HG. The key objective was to evaluate the flow of energy, carbon balance, and GWP of these varied production systems. Puddled rice was recorded as an energy-exhaustive crop (27,803 MJ ha−1), while horse gram was noted to have the lowest energy use (26,537 MJ ha−1). The total energy output from pigeon pea (130,312 MJ ha−1) and diversified intercropped systems (142,135 MJ ha−1) was 65.3% and 80.3% higher than mono-cultured systems, respectively. Rice and rice-based intercropping production systems showed higher carbon footprints (1,264–1,392 kg CO2 eq. ha−1). Results showed that R+BG and R+HG were the most energy-efficient production systems, having higher energy ratio (5.8 and 6.0), higher carbon efficiency (7.41 and 8.24), and carbon sustainability index (6.41 and 7.24) as against 3.30, 3.61, and 2.61 observed under sole cropping production systems. On average, rice and rice-based production systems had 7.4 times higher GWP than other production systems. In productivity terms, pigeon pea and FM+HG had higher rice equivalent yields of 8.81 and 5.79 t ha−1 and benefit-cost ratios of 2.29 and 1.87, respectively. Thus, the present study suggests that pigeon pea and finger millet-based intercropping systems were the most appropriate crop diversification options for the rainfed upland agro-ecosystem of the eastern region of India.

Energy-use efficiency of organic and conventional plant production systems in Germany

Sustainable and efficient energy use in agriculture helps tackle climate change by reducing fossil energy use. We evaluated German farming systems by analysing energy input and output. Data from 30 organic and 30 conventional farms (12 arable, 18 dairy farms each) between 2009 and 2011 was used. Energy input, output, and the influence of farm type, farm structure, and management intensity on energy-use efficiency (EUE) were analysed for crop production using the farm management system REPRO. Conventional farms (CF) always had higher energy input. The energy input for organic farms (OF) was 7.2 GJ ha−1 and for CF 14.0 GJ ha−1. The energy output of CF was also higher. Reductions were higher in energy input than in energy output. In 73.3% of the farm pairs, OF were more energy efficient than CF. The EUE was comparable with CF on 10% of OF and for 16.7% of CF the EUE was higher suggesting better fossil energy utilization. EUE can be increased when reducing fossil energy inputs through more efficient machinery, reduction of agrochemicals, precision farming, the use of renewable energy or energy retention, and by increasing yields. A reduction of inputs is urgently required to lower the (political) dependence on fossil energy.

СВЧ-УСТАНОВКИ С КАМЕРАМИ ГИБРИДНОГО ТИПА ДЛЯ ОБРАБОТКИ СЕЛЬСКОХОЗЯЙСТВЕННЫХ КУЛЬТУР, ДИЭЛЕКТРИЧЕСКИХ И ПОЛИМЕРНЫХ МАТЕРИАЛОВ

A classification of areas of agriculture in which the energy of microwave electromagnetic oscillations is used for processing materials is proposed. The possibility of forming a new field based on the use of microwave installations on hybrid-type working chambers has been shown, which will allow an agricultural producer to enter the commodity market not only with agricultural products, but also with polymer materials with new properties obtained through non-thermal microwave modification in the technological block of Microwave installations. A comparison has been made of studies on the use of microwave energy in technological processes in a market economy. The practical significance of the given analysis of the use of microwave energy in agriculture is indicated.

Cost of Energy Consumption and Return of Excise Tax on Motor Fuels vs. the Durability of Operations and Financial Sustainability in Polish Agriculture

For the European Union, the course of the Community’s energy and climate policy as well as changes in the objectives and priorities of the Common Agricultural Policy, as reflected, among others, in rural development programs subject to ex ante, environmental and ex post evaluation, should be considered. Individual EU countries are still implementing their own programs focused on improving energy efficiency, energy modernisation and supporting renewable energy, and they also intervene in the energy market on an ad hoc basis, as was the case after the outbreak of the war in Ukraine. This article fits into such a broadly understood research perspective, and its primary goal is to identify the impact of the costs of energy consumption and the reimbursement of excise tax on motor fuels on the operational durability and financial sustainability of 103 farms belonging to the Polish FADN network, which in 2017–2021 implemented modernisation projects under the rural development program. Logistic and linear multivariate regression were used to estimate the strength, direction and significance of correlation relationships. It was found that relative energy costs were significantly negatively correlated with financial sustainability only in the linear model, while the impact of excise tax return was positive but not significant. Thus, an empirical proof of the advisability of a possible public intervention aimed at making farmers’ access to energy cheaper was obtained. All public interventions in agricultural energy use should be subject to careful and systematic ex ante, mid-term and ex post assessments based on sound program theory. It is necessary to identify the cause-and-effect chains, in which the regression proposed in the article may be helpful.

Agrivoltaics and Aquavoltaics: Potential of Solar Energy Use in Agriculture and Freshwater Aquaculture in Croatia

Agrivoltaics and aquavoltaics combine renewable energy production with agriculture and aquaculture. Agrivoltaics involves placing solar panels on farmland, while aquavoltaics integrates photovoltaic systems with water bodies and aquaculture. This paper examines the benefits and challenges of agrivoltaics and aquavoltaics, focusing on their potential for Croatian agriculture and freshwater aquaculture. Benefits include dual land use, which allows farmers to produce clean energy while maintaining agricultural practices. They diversify renewable energy sources and reduce dependence on fossil fuels and greenhouse gas emissions. Solar panels in agrivoltaics provide shade, protect crops, reduce water needs, and increase yields. Challenges include high initial costs and limited accessibility, especially for small farmers. Integration with existing systems requires careful planning, considering irrigation, soil moisture, and crop or fish production. Maintenance and cleaning present additional challenges due to dust, debris, and algae. Policy and regulatory frameworks must support implementation, including incentives, grid integration, land use regulations, and conservation. The location, resources, and crops grown in Croatia present an opportunity for agrivoltaics and aquavoltaics, considering cultivation methods, species, and regulatory requirements.

The Role of Green Energy in Promoting Sustainable Agriculture in Pakistan

This study examines the role of green energy in sustainable agriculture based on data from 250 farmers in Punjab, Pakistan. The survey explores farmers' awareness, perceptions, and attitudes toward transitioning to green energy for sustainable agriculture. Results indicate that most respondents recognize the potential of green energy in promoting sustainable agricultural practices and emphasize the importance of its adoption. Green energy is believed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to a more sustainable agricultural sector. Government policies, regulations, and investments are considered crucial for facilitating the transition to green energy in agriculture. Education and awareness initiatives are also identified as essential for promoting its use. The study underscores the significance of promoting green energy adoption to achieve a sustainable and environmentally friendly agricultural system. The findings can inform policymakers and stakeholders in developing strategies to encourage the use of green energy in agriculture.

Climate change and energy use efficiency in arid and semiarid agricultural areas: A case study of Hamadan-Bahar plain in Iran

Climate change characterized by decreasing rainfall and rising temperature has become a dominant phenomenon in many Middle Eastern countries, including Iran. It may also affect energy use efficiency and productivity in the agricultural sector. This study investigated the effects of climate change on energy input and output in the agricultural sector of Hamadan-Bahar Plain in western Iran. Different physiological, meteorological, hydrological, and economical dimensions were considered within various time horizons and climate scenarios. As a result of a 14.8% reduction in precipitation and a 14.1% increase in temperature in the most optimistic scenarios on the horizon of 2090, climate change has affected water resource availability and agricultural production in the plain. As a result of these changes, agricultural energy use efficiency and energy productivity in the region have declined by 36.79% and 25.74%, respectively, as compared to the base year (2018). Furthermore, the results of this study indicate conventional approaches to cope with this phenomenon are mostly associated with higher energy input and lower energy output. For example, if deficit irrigation methods are used, the rate of reduction in energy efficiency and productivity in 2090 in the most optimistic scenario would be 39.21% and 28.02%, respectively. In other words, within the framework of the existing strategies, solving the problem of water scarcity is only possible at the expense of reduced energy efficiency. Hence, the continuation of current conditions would lead to higher production costs and environmental pollution as well as food insecurity in the coming decades.

An econometric analysis of Greenhouse gas emissions from different agricultural factors in Bangladesh

Global climate change triggered by greenhouse gases (GHGs) puts incomparable threats to the environment and food security. Agriculture is one of the key drivers of environmental deterioration, which is linked to GHG emissions and labeled ultrasensitive to climate change. However, there is a scarcity of research exploring the nexus between agriculture and GHG emissions in Bangladesh. Thus, the present study empirically investigates the dynamic impacts of agricultural land expansion, agricultural value added, crop production, livestock production, fisheries production, energy use in agriculture, fertilizer consumption, and forest land on GHG emissions in Bangladesh. Time series data from 1990 to 2018 were utilized by employing the Dynamic Ordinary Least Squares (DOLS) approach. The empirical findings reveal that a 1% increase in agricultural land, crop production index, livestock production index, fisheries production, energy use in agriculture, and fertilizer consumption will increase GHG emissions by 0.25%, 0.29%, 0.40%, 0.18%, 0.46%, and 0.28% in the long run. Conversely, a 1% increase in agricultural value added and the forest land may lead to GHG emissions reduction by 0.32% and 1.44% in the long run. The estimated results are robust to alternative estimators such as fully modified least squares (FMOLS) and canonical cointegrating regression (CCR). This research contributes to the existing literature by shedding light on the GHG emissions from the agriculture sector of Bangladesh. This article put forward policy recommendations on sustainable and climate-smart agriculture that would enhance productivity and resilience while reducing emissions from the agriculture sector.

Use of Renewable Energy in Agriculture in Terms of Sustainability: Hatay/Turkey Example

The aim of this study was to investigate the use of renewable energy in agriculture and environmental sustainability. Data was obtained with a face to face survey from 120 farmers whom selected randomly from the districts of Hatay province. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used to analyze whether the numerical variables fit the normal distribution or not. Kruskal-Wallis test was used for nonparametric data. The variables found to be significant in the Kruskal- Wallis test were interpreted by using the Mann-Whitney U test. It is found out that age, education level, farm size, total energy cost and income of farmers had a significant relation between groups. Also, differences were identified between farmers' opinions about the use of renewable energy sources and their agricultural practices. Energy is one of the most expensive inputs in agricultural production (especially in irrigation) in the region. The annual total energy amount of the farmers was ₺48.991,60. The total cost of energy affects farmers' information resources. Big farms have a high level of technology use. As a result, the importance of agriculture, energy, environmental protection and sustainability has been evaluated and related recommendations were developed for the region.

Energy-sustainable agriculture in the European Union member states: Overall productivity growth and structural efficiency

The use of energy in agriculture is important to ensure modernization of agricultural practices and boost the productivity. However, one also needs to take the unintended outcomes of the increasing energy intensity into account. This paper looks into the productivity growth measures adjusted for the energy-related GHG emission and their application for the European Union (EU) agriculture. The Common Agricultural Policy implemented in the EU requires evidence-based policy guidelines. The country-level data for 2003–2019 are analysed by means of the data envelopment analysis. Thus, the aggregate measures of the productivity growth are established at the EU level. The results indicate that, after accounting for the energy-related GHG emission and structural inefficiency, there has been a decline in the agricultural multi-factor productivity of some 16%.

Analysis of Energy Use Efficiency and Greenhouse Gas Emission in Rainfed Canola Production (Case study: Çanakkale Province, Turkey)

Agriculture and energy are two closely related issues, agriculture not only consumes energy, but it also supplies energy. While increasing energy use in agriculture causes environmental problems such as greenhouse gas emissions, it also leads to the depletion of non-renewable energy resources. On the other hand, decreasing greenhouse gas emissions and enhancement the efficiency of energy use is among the important issues of sustainable agriculture. Therefore, this study was done to determine the energy inputs and greenhouse gas emissions in rainfed canola production. Data were collected by conducting face-to-face interviews in the period of 2021-2022 in 42-farm in Çanakkale province, located in the northwest of Turkey. Results introduced that the energy use efficiency and net energy gain were 3.63 and 72786.16 MJ ha-1, respectively. In energy consumption, the highest rate of 46.62% belongs to fuel, and then nitrogen with 40.44%. The consumption of total energy is obtained as direct (46.46%), indirect (53.54%), renewable (1.07%) and non-renewable (98.93%). It has been determined that the energy requirements of the farms belong to non-renewable energy with an amount of 27384.03 MJ ha-1, and this is especially prominent in diesel fuel and nitrogen fertilizer. The results show that the agricultural production in the area where the study is carried out mostly depends on non-renewable energy sources, whereas the use of renewable energy is very low. Total greenhouse gas emissions per hectare were equivalent to 1921.66 kg CO2, and the highest amount was determined to belong to machinery and diesel fuel, with 53.20% and 32.66%, respectively. According to the results obtained in the farms where the study was carried out, it was revealed that the economic use and sustainability of energy can be strongly recommended in rainfed canola production using mechanization, especially considering the non-renewable energy inputs.

Comparing the effects of agricultural intensification on CO2 emissions and energy consumption in developing and developed countries

Energy consumption has become a requirement in the modern world, and without it, the economies of developing nations cannot prosper. Consistent economic growth is a challenge for countries of all economic levels, not just the less developed ones. We test the EKC hypothesis by analyzing the relationships between GDP growth, energy consumption, agricultural output, and the consequences of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. From 1991 to 2016, we used panel and quantile regression analysis to compare emissions in nine developing countries with those in 13 developed countries. There is the beginning of a reverse U-shaped relationship between agricultural energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. As a result, the verified EKC hypothesis paves the way for a watershed moment in the progress of industrialized nations’ economies. As an added bonus, agricultural results have a positive impact on CO2 emissions from using liquid fuels. It has a negative impact on CO2 emissions by 19.12% and causes a 4.802 percent increase in environmental degradation. Feed cropping, deforestation, biomass burning, and deep soil and cropping also have negative effects on the environment, especially in developing countries. There is a negative correlation between CO2 emissions and economic growth in developing countries and their energy consumption. Although the EKC hypothesis for CO2 emissions was rejected at lower quantiles, it was validated for Qatar, Canada, China, and other high-emitting economies according to the empirical estimation of quantile regression. The findings of this study have important policy implications for reducing carbon dioxide emissions, suggesting that policymakers account for the stage of economic growth currently being experienced when formulating measures to cut energy use and protect the environment. In particular, policies aimed at reducing energy consumption could.

The impact of agricultural intensification on carbon dioxide emissions and energy consumption: A comparative study of developing and developed nations

Energy consumption has become a necessity in today’s world, and economies in developing nations cannot thrive without it. Countries with less developed economies face the same challenges of achieving sustained economic growth as those with more advanced economies. Herein, we examine the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) hypothesis by looking at the interplay between GDP growth, energy use, agricultural output, and the effects of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. From 1991 to 2016, we used panel and quantile regression analyses to compare emissions in nine developing countries with those in 13 developed countries. There is the beginning of a reverse U-shaped relationship between agricultural energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. As a result, the verified EKC hypothesis paves the way for a watershed moment in the progress of industrialized nations’ economies. The estimated results of agriculture have a favorable impact on CO2 emissions by 15.16 percent but a negative influence of 2.92 percent on CO2 emissions from using liquid fuels, leading to more severe environmental deterioration. Additionally, in developing countries, feed cropping, deforestation, biomass burning, and deep soil and cropping all have detrimental consequences on the ecosystem. There is a negative correlation between CO2 emissions and economic growth in developing countries and their energy consumption. Although the EKC hypothesis for CO2 emissions was rejected at lower quantiles, it was validated for Qatar, Canada, China, and other high-emitting economies according to the empirical estimation of quantile regression. The findings of this study have important policy implications for reducing carbon dioxide emissions, suggesting that policymakers account for the stage of economic growth currently being experienced when formulating measures to cut energy use and protect the environment. Possible solutions to mitigate environmental degradation include enactment of policies to reduce energy consumption.

Exploring the role of digital inclusive finance in agricultural carbon emissions reduction in China: Insights from a two-way fixed-effects model

Digital inclusive finance can help to achieve agricultural carbon reduction through effective resource allocation, financial innovation, and digital networks. This study empirically tested the role of digital inclusive finance in agricultural carbon emissions reduction using a two-way fixed-effects model that was based on panel data of 30 provinces from 2011 to 2019 in China. The data and statistics showed that China's total agricultural carbon emissions were still growing and had not yet reached their peak. This empirical study found that digital inclusive finance had a significant effect on the reduction in agricultural carbon emissions. Specifically, for every one-level increase in the digital financial inclusion development (DFII) level, the province's total agricultural carbon emissions (TACC), agricultural greenhouse gas carbon emissions (ACGC), and agricultural carbon source carbon emissions (ACSC) decreased by 0.31, 0.38, and 0.25%, respectively, but there was no significant decrease in agricultural energy use carbon emissions (ACEC)1. Furthermore, the first- and second-order lagged terms of digital inclusive finance still had significant agricultural carbon reduction effects, reducing TACC by 0.30 and 0.29%, respectively. To better utilize the agricultural carbon emissions reduction effect of digital inclusive finance, we should further support the development of digital inclusive finance; promote education on, and the breadth and depth of digital inclusive finance; encourage cooperation between digital inclusive finance and low-carbon enterprises to reduce the financing constraints of agricultural low-carbon enterprises; and stimulate the R&D and sales of low-carbon technologies.

Evaluating the impacts of technological progress on agricultural energy consumption and carbon emissions based on multi-scenario analysis.

Analyzing the impacts of technological progress on agricultural energy consumption and carbon emissions is of great significance for the development of low-carbon agriculture. Most of the existing studies focus on the agricultural sector level and lack of assessment of the impacts of technological progress on agricultural energy use and carbon emissions from the perspective of crops. In this study, we evaluated the impacts of technological progress on the energy consumption and carbon emissions of main crops in China under energy intensity constraints using a price endogenous partial equilibrium model with scenario analysis. We found that China's agriculture will have the highest yield and social welfare in 2025 under the production technological progress scenario, which will be 695.44 million t and 287.91 million yuan. Energy consumption for production will be the least under the energy technology progress scenario, which will be reduced by 9.02 million t ce or 16.01% compared to the baseline scenario. Under energy intensity constraints, synergy progress in production and energy technology will be the most effective way to reduce carbon emissions in the agricultural sector. Compared to the baseline, China's agricultural sector will reduce carbon emissions by 22.18 million t c in 2025 under the synergy scenario, a decrease of 16.18%. Therefore, we suggested that China's agricultural sector should pay more attention to the synergetic development of agricultural energy and production technology to further reduce carbon emissions and promote the development of green agriculture.

The Contribution of Energy Use and Production to Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Evidence from the Agriculture of European Countries

The submitted study investigates the role of energy use in agriculture and agricultural output in carbon dioxide emissions with the presence of instrumental variables such as rural population and urbanisation. The data set covers 27 European countries during the period 2010–2020. The quantitative approach was applied using cluster analysis with the previous identification of relations between variables by factor analysis. As the second approach, the Two-Stage Least Square (TSLS) model was estimated. Based on the results, three clusters were created. The heatmap demonstrated the similarity between the comprised countries. The most similar countries are Greece and Hungary, while the most different countries are Luxembourg and Malta. Performed TSLS analysis showed that an increase in energy use is associated with an increase in carbon dioxide emissions. On the other hand, greater agricultural output is associated with lower emissions. However, the statistical significance differs across the individual clusters.

FARMERS’ ATTITUDES TOWARDS RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES

The main purpose of the paper is to analyze the renewable energy market and its importance for the agricultural sector. In order to assess the renewable energy market in the agricultural sector, a questionnaire survey was carried out among farmers. The survey was conducted in the years 2020-2021 in a group of 400 farm owners. A 15-question questionnaire was used to conduct the study. This study covered two issues, namely: the use of renewable energy sources and the production of renewable energy on farms. In order to characterize the current state of the renewable energy market, secondary data from the Energy Regulatory Office (ERO) were used. The use of renewable energy in agriculture makes it possible to solve various challenges related to the use of fossil fuels, and what is important, is associated with little or no emission to the environment of pollutants and greenhouse gases. The conducted analyzes allow to draw conclusions that the market of renewable energy sources in rural areas has great potential and significant importance for the agricultural sector, however, it requires efforts to increase the interest in using renewable energy sources.