Energy-smart farming: Efficiency, renewable energy and sustainability

Part 1 Efficient use of electricity, heat and fuel
1.Measuring and auditing on-farm energy use: Majeed Safa, Lincoln University, New Zealand;
2.Advances in energy-efficient lighting and ventilation for food production systems: Tom Tabler, Mississippi State University, USA;
3.Improving farm machinery operation and maintenance to optimise fuel use efficiency: T. A. Jensen and J. N. Tullberg, University of Southern Queensland, Australia; and D. L. Antille, University of Southern Queensland and CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Australia;
4.Efficient water management and irrigation on farms: K. Reardon-Smith and S. Mushtaq, Centre for Applied Climate Sciences, University of Southern Queensland, Australia; M. Scobie and J. Eberhard, Centre for Agricultural Engineering, University of Southern Queensland, Australia; and T. N. Maraseni, Centre for Sustainable Agricultural Systems, University of Southern Queensland, Australia;

Part 2 On-farm renewable energy heat and power generation
5.Assessing and modelling the costs of on-farm distributed renewable energy systems: Julio Pombo-Romero, University of Vigo, Spain;
6.Energy-smart innovation and renewable energy systems on farms: an overview: Ralph E. H. Sims, Massey University, New Zealand;
7.On-farm biomass technologies for heat and power: Ralph E. H. Sims, Massey University, New Zealand;
8.Developments in agrivoltaics: achieving synergies by combining plants with solar photovoltaic power systems: Stefano Amaducci, Eleonora Potenza and Michele Colauzzi, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Italy;

Part 3 Energy-smart farming: case studies
9.Tools and technologies to reduce fossil energy use on dairy farms: Philip Shine and Michael D. Murphy, Munster Technological University, Ireland; and John Upton, Teagasc Moorepark, Ireland;
10.Energy-smart pig farming: Lee J. Johnston and Kelsey L. Hammers, West Central Research and Outreach Center, University of Minnesota, USA;
11.Energy-smart poultry farming: Yi Liang, University of Arkansas, USA;

Ralph E. H. Sims is Emeritus Professor of Sustainable Energy and Climate Mitigation at Massey University, New Zealand. In a distinguished career spanning 50 years, Professor Sims has also worked for the International Energy Agency, produced major reports on rural energy for the OECD, UNFCCC and UN FAO, been Director of the Centre for Energy Research at Massey University and contributed to five IPCC reports, including leading chapters on energy supply, transport and renewable energy integration.

“The proposed content of the book is very interesting and useful as it covers topics and provides examples that contribute to global knowledge on the important – yet often overlooked - links between energy and food. The publication of the book is very timely as it is highly relevant for the pathway towards the fulfilment of the Goals of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and the Paris Agreement. This should be an important reference for decision makers and practitioners at the interface between the energy and food sectors. Well done!” (Olivier Dubois, Senior Natural Resources Officer & Leader Energy Programme, Office of Climate Change, Biodiversity and Environment, FAO)