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The shadow of tropical agriculture: Energy transition of Colombian trade-driven agriculture in the 20th century

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  • Urrego-Mesa, A.
  • Infante-Amate, J.
  • Tello, E.

Abstract

Agrarian transformations in tropical regions, driven by fossil-fuel inputs and export-oriented specialization, have caused significant ecological and climatic challenges. Assessing the historical and current patterns of these systems is essential for understanding global biomass production dynamics and addressing their impacts. This study employs long-term agroecological energy analysis (AEA) to examine the efficiency and sustainability of biomass production during the transition from traditional-organic to intensive-conventional systems. While AEA has primarily focused on temperate agriculture in developed regions, this study presents a case of tropical export-oriented farming, analyzing the socio-ecological transition of Colombian agriculture from 1915 to 2015 at an annual resolution, covering crops, livestock, and forestry.

Suggested Citation

  • Urrego-Mesa, A. & Infante-Amate, J. & Tello, E., 2025. "The shadow of tropical agriculture: Energy transition of Colombian trade-driven agriculture in the 20th century," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 231(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecolec:v:231:y:2025:i:c:s0921800925000242
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2025.108541
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Eduardo Aguilera & Gloria I. Guzmán & Juan Infante-Amate & David Soto & Roberto García-Ruiz & Antonio Herrera & Inmaculada Villa & Eva Torremocha & Guiomar Carranza & Manuel González de Molina, 2015. "Embodied energy in agricultural inputs. Incorporating a historical perspective," Documentos de Trabajo de la Sociedad de Estudios de Historia Agraria 1507, Sociedad de Estudios de Historia Agraria.
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    5. Alexander Urrego-Mesa, 2021. "Food Security, trade specialization, and violence in Colombia (1916-2016)," Investigaciones de Historia Económica - Economic History Research (IHE-EHR), Journal of the Spanish Economic History Association, Asociación Española de Historia Económica, vol. 17(04), pages 01-15.
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    8. Montaño, Marta & Sanabria, Olga & Quilindo, Oswaldo & Urrego-Mesa, Alexander & Tello, Enric & Marull, Joan, 2025. "Community reconstruction of biocultural landscapes. Application in the Kokonuko Indigenous Territory," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 228(C).
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