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Farm Gate Energy Intensity of Food Production in Poland - Considering the Physical and Economic Aspects of Production
Within food supply chains, attention is paid to the significant energy consumption at the farm gate level. In agricultural production, the energy intensity of animal production is much higher than that of plant production, but mainly if physical units are considered. This study examines the energy intensity of food production in Poland from 2010 to 2019, contrasting animal and plant production in both physical and monetary units. Utilizing the EXIOBASE database, it compares energy consumption across wheat, sugar beets, pig, and poultry farming sectors, addressing the gap in research on energy intensity within these individual sectors. The research reveals that, contrary to physical unit measurements, the energy intensity in monetary terms is lower for animal production than for plant production. Specifically, plant production showed higher energy intensity, averaging 28.02 MJ/€1 GDP for wheat and 30.15 MJ/€1 GDP for sugar beets. In contrast, animal production had higher energy intensity when measured by physical units, with pigs and poultry averaging 15.72 MJ/kg and 15.36 MJ/kg, respectively. These disparities arise primarily from the greater profitability of animal production, impacting the results per monetary unit. The findings underscore the importance of including economic aspects in energy intensity measurements, influencing agricultural producers' decisions.
Farmland Degradation in the Czech Republic: Drivers and Barriers of Mitigation Strategies in Agricultural Soils
The intensity of greenhouse gas emissions from the food production system in the Visegrad Group countries
Greenhouse gas emissions of anthropogenic origin, including those from the food production system, are considered one of the main reasons for global climate warming, so many measures are being taken to reduce them. After joining the European Union, the Visegrad Group countries are obliged to monitor and report the level of greenhouse gas emissions, which is also closely related to the level and structure of energy consumption. According to the International Energy Agency estimates, 75% of greenhouse gas emissions in the European Union are related to energy production or use. High food productivity brings with it energy-intensive solutions that increase emissions. It is also important that tackling climate change is not a barrier to increased food production. In this context, the lowest possible emission intensity of the food production system, understood as the amount of greenhouse gas emissions per unit of production or gross value added, should be sought. The study aimed to calculate the emission intensity of food production systems in the Visegrad countries in 2010-2016. The emission intensity of agribusiness greenhouse gases was calculated as the emissions forfeited per unit of output and gross value added. The paper uses the author's methods, which are consistent with each other, for calculating agribusiness production and income, as well as greenhouse gas emissions from the food production system. Data from input-output tables and, consistent with these tables, environmental accounts published on Eurostat's website were used to calculate these quantities. During the period under review, the GHG intensity index decreased in Visegrad countries despite an overall increase in emissions of primary greenhouse gases from food production. However, these changes are minor, mainly due to the short analysis period. However, further growth in food production may not contribute to an increase in the level of greenhouse gas emissions. Financing pro-environmental investments at all stages of food production will be key in this regard. Further research in this area, using the methodology presented in this article, will make it possible to compare the results obtained with those calculated from more recent data. This will make it possible to capture the impact of, for example, the European Green Deal and the financing of pro-environmental investments in the agribusiness of the Visegrad Group countries.
Energy intensity of the Polish agri-food sector in the light of input-output tables
The purpose of this paper is to assess the energy intensity of production in the Polish agri-food (agribusiness) sector, split into agriculture, food industry and supply subsectors, in the light of input-output tables. The study relies on input-output tables and physical energy flow accounts. Energy plays a key role in today’s society as it affects economic growth and the standards of living, while also being at the core of international conflicts, mainly caused by its limited resources. Compared to other sectors, agribusiness demonstrates particularly high levels of energy consumption. Agriculture, which is part of it, has a large share in the consumption of fuels derived from crude oil. This paper presents the consumption of energy in each of the four aggregates of agribusiness, as well as their GDP (in PPS) and energy consumption mix (split into 6groups of energy carriers). The authors found that between2014 and2019, energy consumption in the agribusiness industry increased by ca.9% and was accompanied by ca.8% growth in GDP. The sector’s energy intensity was half more than the average level for the economy as a whole, and remained at ca.5.6TJ per EUR1million of GDP in PPS. Only the food industry was at a level of energy efficiency similar to that of the economy as a whole, whereas the agricultural supply subsector was the only one to demonstrate lower levels. Both the economy as a whole and the agribusiness sector clearly tend to reduce the share of coal and related products in the energy mix.
Towards greater integration: Prospects for the development of agri-food trade between the EU and RCEP countries
The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) is the largest free trade agreement in the world, making it a potentially attractive trading partner for the European Union (EU). This paper aims to fill a research gap by examining agri-food trade between the EU and RCEP, with a focus on uncovering opportunities for sectoral cooperation and identifying competitive dynamics. It employs trade structure similarity and intra-industry trade analysis, including horizontal and vertical trade flows. Using the Export Similarity Index (ESI) and Product Similarity Index (PSI), the findings indicate stable, moderate competition in agri-food trade between the EU and RCEP, with similarity indices ranging from 0.32 to 0.35. While intra-industry trade remains limited due to geographic distance, there is notable potential for expanding high-quality EU agri-food exports. The results suggest that targeted trade policies could enhance cooperation by leveraging the EU’s export strengths to meet RCEP demand. The study provides a strategic framework for future negotiations, emphasizing sectoral approaches to optimize trade outcomes and maximize trade benefits between the EU and RCEP countries.
Drivers and barriers to precision agriculture technology and digitalisation adoption: Meta-analysis of decision choice models
Renewable energy in EU agribusiness: Review of progress in meeting 2030 renewable energy directive III targets
Emission intensities in EU countriesʼ food production systems and their market resilience during the 2020 global economic turmoil
Economic Development and Diet Composition: Cross-Continental Insights into Bennett's Law
The study assesses Bennett's Law, which posits that higher incomes lead to reduced consumption of starchy staples in favor of more diverse, nutrient-dense diets, and its relevance across various global regions. Using regression models, the research examines the relation between GDP per capita and the share of starchy staple foods in caloric intake across continents. The findings indicate significant regional variations in adherence to Bennett's Law. For instance, while South America aligns with Bennett's predictions, Europe deviates, showing increased starchy staple consumption with rising incomes, potentially due to cultural and eco-conscious dietary trends. Africa and parts of Asia display limited dietary diversification, often due to structural barriers and economic constraints. Contrarily, Oceania and North America exhibit a mixed relationship, influenced by income inequality and health trends. These results suggest that Bennett's Law's applicability is region-specific and influenced by socioeconomic, cultural, and policy factors, underscoring the complexity of dietary transitions and cautioning against one-size-fits-all assumptions about the impacts of economic development on food consumption.