Key Directions of Energy Saving in Agriculture

Abstract

Introduction. The problem of energy saving becomes more and more relevant in the conditions of organizational and economic relations transformation in agriculture. It is connected with intensive technologies used in the agriculture, with the cost and availability of different energy types. It affects the cost of production, its environmental friendliness and the achievement of sustainable development goals. Methods. The article talks about theoretical provisions related to the application of agro-technological operations in agriculture, including their economic and environmental components. Monographic, abstract and logical methods, as well as methods of comparison, generalization, and analysis, are used. Results. It is established that agriculture, unlike other branches of the economy, is not only a consumer of energy, but also generates it as a finished product. This uses anthropotechnogenic energy, as well as solar and soil energy. It is emphasized that the issue of achieving positive energy balance in agriculture is relevant today and needs to be solved by reducing energy consumption from non-renewable sources. It is determined that energy saving in agriculture involves the application of legislative, organizational, scientific, productional, technical and economic measures. As a result, the balanced energy consumption, rational energy use, optimization of energy saving management through organizational and economic mechanism and reducing energy consumption should occur. It is proved that the directions of energy saving in the agricultural sphere can be determined by the processes of its circulation and manifest itself in the form of providing access to energy resources, creating competitive conditions in the energy supply market, diversifying energy resources, increasing the efficiency of technical means. Considering the tools of energy saving achievement, it is determined that its main areas are: management, energy, technology, technical and selectional measures. Together their action is aimed at reducing energy consumption of fossil origin and using the solar and soil energy optimally. Discussion. The results of the study serve as a theoretical basis for further research in the energy saving field of agriculture, which can be implemented to substantiate comprehensive actions aimed at reducing energy consumption, as well as to develop an organizational and economical mechanism capable of achieving the highest level of energy saving. Keywords: energy saving, energy efficiency, agriculture, energy balance, directions of energy saving.