Energy-Smart Farming

It has been estimated that around 15% of global agricultural production costs on-farm are energy-related. With heightened concerns around the sustainability of crop and livestock production, the agricultural sector must develop and invest in alternative methods of farming that recoup the same results but have a reduced environmental impact.

Energy-smart farming: Efficiency, renewable energy and sustainability reviews recent research undertaken on the ways of reducing the costs and environmental impact of on-farm energy use. The collection explores advances in improving energy efficiency on farms, renewable energy technologies such as agrivoltaics, biomass combustion, gasification and pyrolysis, as well as how more sustainable energy use can be delivered in practice in livestock production systems.

Edited by a leading expert in the field, Energy-smart farming: Efficiency, renewable energy and sustainability will be a standard reference for university and other researchers in renewable energy deployment and policies, environmental scientists, government and other agencies tackling the challenge of climate change, as well as farmers and representatives from food manufacturers and suppliers dedicated to reducing their carbon footprint.

• Comprehensive assessment of global agricultural on-farm energy costs, such as lighting and ventilation systems, operation and maintenance of farm machinery, as well as water and irrigation management
• Explores the development of alternative, renewable energy systems, such as agrivoltaics, biomass heat technologies and anaerobic digestion for producing biogas from organic waste
• Considers the practical application and implementation of energy-smart farming technologies in crop and livestock production, presenting case studies on energy-smart dairy, pig and poultry farming

“The proposed content of the book is very interesting and useful as it covers topics and provides examples that contribute to global knowledge on the important – yet often overlooked - links between energy and food. The publication of the book is very timely as it is highly relevant for the pathway towards the fulfilment of the Goals of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and the Paris Agreement. This should be an important reference for decision makers and practitioners at the interface between the energy and food sectors. Well done!” Dr Olivier Dubois, Senior Natural Resources Officer & Leader Energy Programme, Office of Climate Change, Biodiversity and Environment, FAO

It has been estimated that around 15% of global agricultural production costs on-farm are energy-related. With heightened concerns around the sustainability of crop and livestock production, the agricultural sector must develop and invest in alternative methods of farming that recoup the same results but have a reduced environmental impact.

Energy-smart farming: Efficiency, renewable energy and sustainability reviews recent research undertaken on the ways of reducing the costs and environmental impact of on-farm energy use. The collection explores advances in improving energy efficiency on farms, renewable energy technologies such as agrivoltaics, biomass combustion, gasification and pyrolysis, as well as how more sustainable energy use can be delivered in practice in livestock production systems.

Edited by a leading expert in the field, Energy-smart farming: Efficiency, renewable energy and sustainability will be a standard reference for university and other researchers in renewable energy deployment and policies, environmental scientists, government and other agencies tackling the challenge of climate change, as well as farmers and representatives from food manufacturers and suppliers dedicated to reducing their carbon footprint.

Ralph E. H. Sims is Emeritus Professor of Sustainable Energy and Climate Mitigation at Massey University, New Zealand. In a distinguished career spanning 50 years, Professor Sims has also worked for the International Energy Agency, produced major reports on rural energy for the OECD, UNFCCC and UN FAO, been Director of the Centre for Energy Research at Massey University and contributed to five IPCC reports, including leading chapters on energy supply, transport and renewable energy integration.