Energy embodiment in Brazilian agriculture: an overview of 23 crops
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1590/0103-9016-2015-0188Abstract
The amount of energy required to produce a commodity or to supply a service varies from one production system to another and consequently giving rise to differing levels of environmental efficiency. Moreover, since energy prices have been continuously increasing over time, this energy amount may be a factor that has economic worth. Biomass production has a variety of end-products such as food, energy, and fiber; thus, taking into account the similarity in end-product of different crops (e.g.: sunflower, peanuts, or soybean for oil) it is possible to evaluate which crops require less energy per functional unit, such as starch, oil, and protein. This information can be used in decision-making about policies for food safety or bioenergy. In this study, 23 crops were evaluated allowing for a comparison in terms of energy embodied per functional unit. Crops were grouped as follows: starch, oil, horticultural, perennial and fiber, to provide for a deeper analysis of alternatives for the groups, and subsidize further studies comparing conventional and alternative production systems such as organic or genetically modified organisms, in terms of energy. The best energy balance observed was whole sugarcane (juice, bagasse and straw) with a surplus of 268 GJ ha−1 yr−1; palm shows the highest energy return on investment with a ratio of approximately 30:1. For carbohydrates and protein production, cassava and soybean, respectively, emerged as the crops offering the greatest energy savings in the production of these functional foods.Downloads
Download data is not yet available.
Downloads
Published
2015-12-01
Issue
Section
Agricultural Engineering
License
All content of the journal, except where identified, is licensed under a Creative Common attribution-type BY-NC.How to Cite
Energy embodiment in Brazilian agriculture: an overview of 23 crops . (2015). Scientia Agricola, 72(6), 471-477. https://doi.org/10.1590/0103-9016-2015-0188