Sustainable Energy Solutions in Agriculture

This book provides a technological and scientific endeavor to assist the society and farming communities, in different world regions and scales, to improve their productivity and sustainability. Through providing the latest technology and by deepening the understanding of possible cost-efficient techniques and application opportunities for different scales and situations, it will show why the implementation of these technologies faces numerous technological, economic and policy barriers while giving suggestions and examples as to how these hurdles can be overcome. Costs of novel technologies using both conventional and renewable energy sources are discussed and compared with those of other technologies for agricultural production, taking into account environmental and social costs that are caused by using fossil fuel based technologies. Energy efficiency is highlighted since it is of special importance in the systems. Also, applications of new and improved technologies are discussed and promoted. Finally, the book highlights what further research and development needs to be performed.