Economic and environmental analysis of energy efficiency measures in agriculture. Case Studies and trade offs.

This report is the result of the collaboration of the partners of the AGREE work-package “Economic and environmental analysis”, which is based on case study analyses of the partners in seven countries of the EU. The case studies show economic and environmental trade-offs in the different regions in the EU, for which each partner is responsible. Nevertheless prior to the reporting of the case studies an intensive discussion on a common methodological approach has been accomplished and applied to the case studies. The case studies show a wide range of different perspectives of energy efficiency in agriculture, but they are all based on the common methodology presented in Chapter 3. In Chapter 4, the case studies are presented, with authors indicated at the beginning of each section. Each section of Chapter 4 ends with a synthesis analysis of the results from the different case studies. Chapter 5 summarizes and concludes the report by highlighting the major findings of the analyses. The report builds upon the “State of the Art in Energy Efficiency in Europe” published separately by the AGREE consortium (Gołaszewski et al. 2012), which shows the status quo of energy use and possible energy efficiency measures in agriculture across different production systems and regions in Europe. This report presents an economic and environmental analysis based on in-depth case studies which show the potential for, and constraints on, energy efficiency measures in agriculture with respect to the specific environments in Europe

Agenda for transnational co-operation on energy efficiency in agriculture.

This report describes the stakeholder process set up by the AGREE project, to produce an Agenda for Transnational Cooperation in R&D on the topic of energy efficiency in agriculture. In six of the partner countries, represting a wide variety of agro-climatic conditions, stakeholders from across the value chain and representing the enabling environment, came together to discuss and identify opportunities and bottlenecks for an energy efficient agriculture for the future. The resulting lists were analysed and clustered to produce nine potential topics for energy efficiency R&D in EU agriculture. In a transnational meeting with representatives from each of the participating countries, as well as from the External Advisory Board, R&D themes were identified and prioritised to produce a list of eleven R&D areas: 1. Sensor technology 2. Agro-residue valorisation 3. Operational groups (energy efficiency networks) 4. Integrative solutions 5. Socio-economic scenarios research 6. Definitions and data exchange 7. Decision Support System (DSS) tools for farmers 8. Design tools 9. Local food strategies 10.Soil and water management 11.Farm machinery In this report the above mentioned areas are explained and described and finally suggestions for the potential embedding of each of the items is discussed

Aktualny stan efektywnosci energetycznej w rolnictwie Unii Europejskiej (The current state of energy efficiency in the agriculture of the European Union)

Energy efficiency is the goal of efforts to reduce the amount of energy required to provide products and services. The general term "energy efficiency", when applied to agriculture,reflects changes in technology, governmental and EC policies – including the Common Agricultural Policy, climate change on a broad scale and local weather patterns, and farming management practices. There is not a single measure to describe, ensure, or improve energy efficiency. Instead, in the energy balance for a given production process, a variety of indicators may serve and support energy efficiency analysis. The results of this study are based on the specific input of primary energy per cultivation área (GJ ha-1) and on the specific input of primary energy per ton of agricultural product (GJ t-1). All the measures that are suitable to reduce the specific energy input, will improve energy efficiency (the energy efficiency measures). Improving energy efficiency of agricultural production contributes directly to the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, particularly carbon dioxide. This State of the Art analysis has been determined on the basis of the data provided by six countries: Finland, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, Poland, and Portugal. The approach based on the life cycle analysis (LCA) has been chosen with the system boundary at the farm gate and have thus excluded processing into consumer goods. Specific energy input has been established for those agricultural products which have a decisive role in the EU foodstuff production, including: – crop production: wheat, sugar beet, potatoes, cotton, and sunflower; – greenhouse production of tomatoes, cucumber, and sweet pepper; – production of perennial crops such as vineyards and olive trees; – livestock production such as dairy cows (milk), pigs, and broilers. The analysis is based on average production figures, or best estimates, (should average figures be unavailable). In several cases figures have been found for different production systems within one country and up to three scenarios have been described. In this way, low, average, and high primary energy consumption (PEC) of the various production processes have been taken into consideration

Energy saving measures in Agriculture – Overview on the basis of national reports.

The reduction of energy inputs in agricultural production is a process of practical implementation of a set of energy saving (ES) measures associated with a given type of production, farm infrastructure and managerial or organizational activities. In six national reports from Finland, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, Poland and Portugal for 13 subsectors of agriculture, 481 ES measures in total were identified and classified into seven categories: 1) type of energy input: indirect, direct; 2) type of ES measure: operational level, systems level, process monitoring, farm management, market orientation, capital goods; 3) importance: from 1-low to 5-high; 4) R&D: yes, no; 5) potential of the measure: achievable at present or not immediately ready for implementation; 6) indication of an investment cost: from €1000 to over €1000000; 7) estimated payback time: from 1 to over 5 years. The general conclusions from the analysis are as follows.ES measures refer to the reduction of main energy inputs in agricultural production, including fertilizers and pesticides; fuels for powering tractors and other machinery; fuel use for heating, cooling, and ventilation in farm buildings and facilities; electricity use for pumping, lighting; and energy embodied in buildings and equipment. In general, the listed ES measures can reduce both direct and indirect energy inputs and the overwhelming majority of the ES measures (443 out of 481) were assessed in the range from 3 (moderate) to 5 (high) in terms of their importance for energy saving. The implementation of part of the ES measures in agricultural practice is achievable at presente Agriculture and Energy Efficiency 4 (464 out of 481) but will require some advanced research (389 out of 481). In the highly industrialized production of pigs and broilers, there are many ES measures which may be implemented with technologies which are presently on the market such as improved heat insulation, more efficient ventilation, lighting and cooling systems, as well advanced control of the interior climate. R&D will be especially important for progress in attaining energy efficiency in agriculture when applied to systems involved in the production process, operational activity and capital goods/farm infrastructure engaged in production. The estimated categories of investment costs related to implementation of ES measures vary greatly between subsectors. 1/3 of the total number of the measures can be implemented at a cost under €1000, and 1/3 incur costs in the range from €1000 to €25000. The highest investment costs would be associated with saving energy and improving energy efficiency in greenhouses and livestock production. They are associated with improved heat insulation, more efficient ventilation, lighting and cooling systems, as well advanced control of the interior climate. In crop production, energy saving will be considerably affected by the ES measures associated with reduction of diesel fuel use by optimizing the parameters for tractor and machinery use in field operations, reduction of energy use for drying and in produce stores. On the other hand, reduction of indirect energy input is associated with implementation of ES measures related to advanced high-yield and disease-resistant cultivars, application of alternative sources of nutrients and plant protection (organic and green fertilizers, bioactive microorganisms), advanced monitoring of the production process and use of production means in accordance with the soil fertility and plant nutrient uptake (Precision Arable Agriculture with Variable Rate application). The importance of ES activities may be country-specific, e.g. in the southern EU countries more importance will be attributed to the ES measures associated with irrigation of cultivated crops while in the central and north-eastern countries – to the ES measures associated with energy effective drying techniques for the harvested crop.. In perennial crop production, the majority of ES measures are connected with fertilization, plant protection and field operations. In greenhouse production, potential reduction of direct energy inputs is associated with the control of greenhouse atmosphere by energy efficient systems of heating, cooling and ventilation as well optimization of production processes. There are also importante measures connected with new solutions for energy recovery and the use of other,alternative sources of energy. The structure of ES measures in livestock production depends on the country. In Portugal,Poland and Finland many ES measures are associated with the production of animal feed and the promotion of animal welfare. However in the Netherlands and Germany most of the reported ES measures are related to electricity use and to the buildings and associated infrastructure for livestock production. Energy use in livestock production may be reduced by increased efficiency of production inputs which require energy consumption, e.g. water use and cleaning, heat insulation, ventilation, reduction of amount of ammonia in buildings, heat recovery, energy use optimization for a given production system

State of the art on Energy Efficiency in Agriculture. Country data on energy consumption in different agro-production sectors in the European countries.

Energy efficiency is the goal of efforts to reduce the amount of energy required to provide products and services. The general term "energy efficiency", when applied to agriculture,reflects changes in technology, governmental and EC policies – including the Common Agricultural Policy, climate change on a broad scale and local weather patterns, and farming management practices. There is not a single measure to describe, ensure, or improve energy efficiency. Instead, in the energy balance for a given production process, a variety of indicators may serve and support energy efficiency analysis. The results of this study are based on the specific input of primary energy per cultivation área (GJ ha-1) and on the specific input of primary energy per ton of agricultural product (GJ t-1). All the measures that are suitable to reduce the specific energy input, will improve energy efficiency (the energy efficiency measures). Improving energy efficiency of agricultural production contributes directly to the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, particularly carbon dioxide. This State of the Art analysis has been determined on the basis of the data provided by six countries: Finland, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, Poland, and Portugal. The approach based on the life cycle analysis (LCA) has been chosen with the system boundary at the farm gate and have thus excluded processing into consumer goods. Specific energy input has been established for those agricultural products which have a decisive role in the EU foodstuff production, including: – crop production: wheat, sugar beet, potatoes, cotton, and sunflower; – greenhouse production of tomatoes, cucumber, and sweet pepper; – production of perennial crops such as vineyards and olive trees; – livestock production such as dairy cows (milk), pigs, and broilers. The analysis is based on average production figures, or best estimates, (should average figures be unavailable). In several cases figures have been found for different production systems within one country and up to three scenarios have been described. In this way, low, average, and high primary energy consumption (PEC) of the various production processes have been taken into consideration

Dzialania energooszczedne w rolnictwie (Energy saving measures in agriculture)

The reduction of energy inputs in agricultural production is a process of practical implementation of a set of energy saving (ES) measures associated with a given type of production, farm infrastructure and managerial or organizational activities. In six national reports from Finland, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, Poland and Portugal for 13 subsectors of agriculture, 481 ES measures in total were identified and classified into seven categories: 1) type of energy input: indirect, direct; 2) type of ES measure: operational level, systems level, process monitoring, farm management, market orientation, capital goods; 3) importance: from 1-low to 5-high; 4) R&D: yes, no; 5) potential of the measure: achievable at present or not immediately ready for implementation; 6) indication of an investment cost: from €1000 to over €1000000; 7) estimated payback time: from 1 to over 5 years. The general conclusions from the analysis are as follows.ES measures refer to the reduction of main energy inputs in agricultural production, including fertilizers and pesticides; fuels for powering tractors and other machinery; fuel use for heating, cooling, and ventilation in farm buildings and facilities; electricity use for pumping, lighting; and energy embodied in buildings and equipment. In general, the listed ES measures can reduce both direct and indirect energy inputs and the overwhelming majority of the ES measures (443 out of 481) were assessed in the range from 3 (moderate) to 5 (high) in terms of their importance for energy saving. The implementation of part of the ES measures in agricultural practice is achievable at presente Agriculture and Energy Efficiency 4 (464 out of 481) but will require some advanced research (389 out of 481). In the highly industrialized production of pigs and broilers, there are many ES measures which may be implemented with technologies which are presently on the market such as improved heat insulation, more efficient ventilation, lighting and cooling systems, as well advanced control of the interior climate. R&D will be especially important for progress in attaining energy efficiency in agriculture when applied to systems involved in the production process, operational activity and capital goods/farm infrastructure engaged in production. The estimated categories of investment costs related to implementation of ES measures vary greatly between subsectors. 1/3 of the total number of the measures can be implemented at a cost under €1000, and 1/3 incur costs in the range from €1000 to €25000. The highest investment costs would be associated with saving energy and improving energy efficiency in greenhouses and livestock production. They are associated with improved heat insulation, more efficient ventilation, lighting and cooling systems, as well advanced control of the interior climate. In crop production, energy saving will be considerably affected by the ES measures associated with reduction of diesel fuel use by optimizing the parameters for tractor and machinery use in field operations, reduction of energy use for drying and in produce stores. On the other hand, reduction of indirect energy input is associated with implementation of ES measures related to advanced high-yield and disease-resistant cultivars, application of alternative sources of nutrients and plant protection (organic and green fertilizers, bioactive microorganisms), advanced monitoring of the production process and use of production means in accordance with the soil fertility and plant nutrient uptake (Precision Arable Agriculture with Variable Rate application). The importance of ES activities may be country-specific, e.g. in the southern EU countries more importance will be attributed to the ES measures associated with irrigation of cultivated crops while in the central and north-eastern countries – to the ES measures associated with energy effective drying techniques for the harvested crop.. In perennial crop production, the majority of ES measures are connected with fertilization, plant protection and field operations. In greenhouse production, potential reduction of direct energy inputs is associated with the control of greenhouse atmosphere by energy efficient systems of heating, cooling and ventilation as well optimization of production processes. There are also importante measures connected with new solutions for energy recovery and the use of other,alternative sources of energy. The structure of ES measures in livestock production depends on the country. In Portugal,Poland and Finland many ES measures are associated with the production of animal feed and the promotion of animal welfare. However in the Netherlands and Germany most of the reported ES measures are related to electricity use and to the buildings and associated infrastructure for livestock production. Energy use in livestock production may be reduced by increased efficiency of production inputs which require energy consumption, e.g. water use and cleaning, heat insulation, ventilation, reduction of amount of ammonia in buildings, heat recovery, energy use optimization for a given production system

Otoczenie zewnetrzne efektywnosci energetycznej w rolnictwie – studium przypadków (External sector energy efficiency in agriculture - case studies)

Until recently energy efficiency in agriculture has received little attention. Nevertheless, energy consumption in agriculture is considerable, especially when indirect energy use is taken into account. AGREE has the objective of showing the potential of short term energy efficiency gains and the promise of a long term potential. Environmental effects of savings on direct and indirect energy use in agriculture are integrally considered, as energy use efficiency also implies reduction of greenhouse gas emissions

Analiza ekonomiczna i srodowiskowa dzialan z zakresu efektywnosci energetycznej w rolnictwie (Economic and environmental analysis of activities in the field of energy efficiency in agriculture)

This text is the result of the collaboration of the partners of the AGREE work-package “Economic and environmental analysis”, which is based on case study analyses of the partners in seven countries of the EU. The case studies show economic and environmental trade-offs in the different regions in the EU, for which each partner is responsible. Nevertheless prior to the reporting of the case studies an intensive discussion on a common methodological approach has been accomplished and applied to the case studies. The case studies show a wide range of different perspectives of energy efficiency in agriculture, but they are all based on the common methodology presented in Chapter 3. In Chapter 4, the case studies are presented, with authors indicated at the beginning of each section. Each section of Chapter 4 ends with a synthesis analysis of the results from the different case studies. Chapter 5 summarizes and concludes the report by highlighting the major findings of the analyses. The report builds upon the “State of the Art in Energy Efficiency in Europe” published separately by the AGREE consortium (Gołaszewski et al. 2012), which shows the status quo of energy use and possible energy efficiency measures in agriculture across different production systems and regions in Europe. This report presents an economic and environmental analysis based on in-depth case studies which show the potential for, and constraints on, energy efficiency measures in agriculture with respect to the specific environments in Europe