Energy consumption and improvement of energy efficiency for the European agricultural-food system

Abstract

This work addresses the subjects of reducing fossil energy consumption and the interventions to improve energy efficiency in the European agricultural-food system. Following an overview on both such subjects, the results of European projects TESLA and SCOoPE are also analysed with attention to best practices and technologies available to improve energy efficiency in order to reduce the fossil energy use in agri-food systems of Mediterranean countries. A list of Key Performance Indicators for the fruit and vegetable sector, useful for comparative analyses aimed at selecting best methods of energy management and technologies for improving energy efficiency, is reported. Finally, a brief focus on European policies concerning the solutions adopted by the new European Commission to make the agri-food system more sustainable from an energy and environmental point of view is also discussed.