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Trophically balanced sustainable agriculture

Author

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  • Schramski, J.R.
  • Rutz, Z.J.
  • Gattie, D.K.
  • Li, K.

Abstract

Considering an economy without fossil fuels, literally built from the ground, then up, we developed several interactive research models of biointensive farms that use no fossil fuels. Quantifying and summarizing total human labor–energy input and total caloric energy output, we demonstrate that a successfully designed farm can produce a positive energy-return-on-investment (EROI) leaving excess caloric energy available for building economic-community structures (e.g., schools and hospitals). Farm products with negative EROI must be coupled with other products with positive EROI to assure nutritionally balanced diets are maintained while still achieving an overall positive EROI for the total agroecological operation. We show that similar to the ecosystem, energy budgets are tight which makes for difficult decisions on diet, farm plot diversity, and energy profitability for future growth. Considering the totality of this low energy agro-system based economy, we simplify many operational variables into a unique graphical solution space, which reveals both reasonable expectations of agroecological EROI performance, and extreme asymptotes, beyond which indicate regions of system failure.

Suggested Citation

  • Schramski, J.R. & Rutz, Z.J. & Gattie, D.K. & Li, K., 2011. "Trophically balanced sustainable agriculture," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 88-96.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecolec:v:72:y:2011:i:c:p:88-96
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2011.08.017
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    1. Maréchal, Kevin, 2010. "Not irrational but habitual: The importance of "behavioural lock-in" in energy consumption," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 69(5), pages 1104-1114, March.
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    9. Gathorne-Hardy, Alfred & Reddy, D. Narasimha & Venkatanarayana, M. & Harriss-White, Barbara, 2016. "System of Rice Intensification provides environmental and economic gains but at the expense of social sustainability — A multidisciplinary analysis in India," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 143(C), pages 159-168.
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    11. Steven Liaros, 2021. "Circular Food Futures: What Will They Look Like?," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 1(4), pages 1193-1206, December.
    12. Schramski, J.R. & Jacobsen, K.L. & Smith, T.W. & Williams, M.A. & Thompson, T.M., 2013. "Energy as a potential systems-level indicator of sustainability in organic agriculture: Case study model of a diversified, organic vegetable production system," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 267(C), pages 102-114.
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