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Modelling Future Agricultural Mechanisation of Major Crops in China: An Assessment of Energy Demand, Land Use and Emissions

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  • Iván García Kerdan

    (Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
    Department of the Built Environment, School of Design, University of Greenwich, London SE10 9LS, UK
    Instituto de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City 04510, Mexico)

  • Sara Giarola

    (Department of Earth Science & Engineering, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK)

  • Ellis Skinner

    (Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK)

  • Marin Tuleu

    (Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK)

  • Adam Hawkes

    (Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK)

Abstract

Agricultural direct energy use is responsible for about 1–2% of global emissions and is the major emitting sector for methane (2.9 GtCO 2 eq y −1 ) and nitrous oxide (2.3 GtCO 2 eq y −1 ). In the last century, farm mechanisation has brought higher productivity levels and lower land demands at the expense of an increase in fossil energy and agrochemicals use. The expected increase in certain food and bioenergy crops and the uncertain mitigation options available for non-CO 2 emissions make of vital importance the assessment of the use of energy and the related emissions attributable to this sector. The aim of this paper is to present a simulation framework able to forecast energy demand, technological diffusion, required investment and land use change of specific agricultural crops. MUSE-Ag & LU, a novel energy systems-oriented agricultural and land use model, has been used for this purpose. As case study, four main crops (maize, soybean, wheat and rice) have been modelled in mainland China. Besides conventional direct energy use, the model considers inputs such as fertiliser and labour demand. Outputs suggest that the modernisation of agricultural processes in China could have the capacity to reduce by 2050 on-farm emissions intensity from 0.024 to 0.016 GtCO 2 eq PJ crop −1 (−35.6%), requiring a necessary total investment of approximately 319.4 billion 2017$US.

Suggested Citation

  • Iván García Kerdan & Sara Giarola & Ellis Skinner & Marin Tuleu & Adam Hawkes, 2020. "Modelling Future Agricultural Mechanisation of Major Crops in China: An Assessment of Energy Demand, Land Use and Emissions," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(24), pages 1-31, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:13:y:2020:i:24:p:6636-:d:462966
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