European environmental sustainability through unraveling the nexus of total energy consumption,value addition,and GHG emissions in agriculture

Abstract

Agriculture is a critical sector contributing significantly to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Europe, primarily through land-use change, fertilizer application, and energy-intensive practices. This study provides an in-depth exploration of the factors influencing GHG emissions from agriculture in Europe (30 countries) from 1995 to 2022, utilizing a diverse range of variables, including agricultural value added (AVA), cereal yield (CY), total agricultural land (TAL), and total energy consumption agriculture (EGYTA). By implementing a composite index derived from principal component analysis and two interaction terms (AVA*CY and AVA*EGYTA), the study provides a comprehensive understanding of the relationships between these variables. The cross-sectionally augmented autoregressive distributed lag technique elucidates the dynamics influencing agricultural GHG (A-GHG) emissions. Key findings indicate that in the long run, a 1% increase in AVA is associated with approximately a 0.07% decrease in A-GHG emissions, while TAL exhibits a positive elasticity of 0.334. CY, EGYTA, and AVA*CY also positively correlate with A-GHG emissions, contributing to elevated GHG emission levels in the sector. It implies that increasing reliance on fertilizers and escalating energy consumption in modern farming are identified as significant concerns. Conversely, AVA, gross domestic product, and AVA*EGYTA show a negative relationship, indicating their potential to mitigate emissions and foster more sustainable agricultural practices. The implications of land clearance on carbon and nitrogen cycles highlight the major role of AVA as both a symbol of economic prosperity and a potential environmental challenge. Based on the findings, the study recommends promoting sustainable farming techniques, encouraging energy efficiency in agriculture, and supporting value-added agricultural production to reduce emissions while sustaining economic productivity.

Graphical abstract

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