Literature Analysis: Energy in Agriculture

Overview

The lack of comprehensive energy centred analyses along agricultural value chains at global level is reflected – with a few exceptions – in literature. In recent years, most notably the FAO worked globally and holistically on the topic, and produced various publications (e.g. "The Energy and Agriculture Nexus", "Solar PV for sustainable agriculture and rural development ", "Energy Smart Food for People and Climate", "Climate Smart Agriculture").

Lack of literature

Though further publications deal with the subject, provide incentives as well as selective potential solutions, there is a lack of comprehensive analyses of energy input and outputs along the entire value chain of an agricultural product. Likewise, analyses of successful models for market-based energy technologies exist only selectively. However, one can clearly notice that holistic approaches and “greening value chains" have been becoming more and more important – due to the increasing demand for socially and environmentally responsible products. Even though the focus is on analyses regarding greenhouse gas emissions, those analyses can be used as a proxy for energy use. In addition, analyses of energy and material flow within the production of bioenergy increase – providing potential points of contact. Nevertheless, in many lines of production it remains unclear which optimization potentials in a region are to be reached both economically and practically.

Existing Literature on Energy and Agriculture

what is there