Modern agriculture is heavily dependent on fossil fuels and mineral fertilisers, both in direct and indirect forms. Directly farmers use diesel to power tractors, harvesters, and other machinery that is essential for planting, maintaining, and harvesting crops. Electricity, which is often generated from fossil fuels, is also critical for running irrigation systems, especially in greenhouse agriculture or in areas where water must be pumped over long distances. Also, livestock operations similarly rely on electricity for heating, cooling, lighting and mechanised feeding systems. The production of key agricultural inputs, such as synthetic fertilisers, especially those containing nitrogen, require large amounts of energy to produce, and natural gas is often a major fuel used in this process.
Latest news
We’re pleased to share that the prototype of an EU-wide database of on-farm energy-saving technologies is now live, developed under the AgEnRes Horizon Europe project. This work is being led by the Agricultural University of Athens (AUA) in collaboration with partners at SGGW, IIASA, and E3M.
In an era of rising energy prices and growing environmental concerns, the agricultural sector faces mounting pressure to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels and mineral fertilisers. AgEnRes is leading the way in addressing this challenge by designing sustainable policy pathways that enhance the resilience of European agriculture
Price volatility is one of the most significant risks in agricultural production. Farmers must navigate unpredictable fluctuations in input and output prices, which can threaten their profitability and long-term stability. Financial tools—such as forward contracts, futures, options, and price insurance—offer mechanisms to mitigate these risks. However, despite their potential benefits, adoption rates among farmers remain surprisingly low.
From in-depth discussions to lively dinners, our three-day meeting at the University of Trento brought together the Work Package 5 team for a highly productive and engaging session. Hosted by our colleagues at the University of Trento and joined by colleagues from Wageningen University & Research and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, we made significant progress across all tasks, refining our systematic literature reviews, finalising survey instruments, and conceptualising innovative risk management tools for farmers.
Fertiliser plays a crucial role in ensuring global food security. However, its overuse can lead to environmental pollution, while the energy-intensive production of mineral nitrogen fertiliser contributes significantly to carbon dioxide emissions. In response, the European Union and its member states have introduced policies to regulate fertiliser use at the farm level. Despite these efforts, farmers often deviate from the recommended fertiliser application rates—not only overapplying but also underapplying fertiliser. Such behaviour challenges traditional economic models based on profit maximisation and rational choice theory, highlighting the need for a deeper understanding of what drives farmers' fertiliser decisions.
In the face of rising energy prices and climate challenges, agriculture stands at the crossroads of transformation. AgEnRes aims to navigate this intersection by exploring strategies for energy independence and resilience in farming. Deliverable D1.1, the project’s first major output, explores the policies shaping this transition. From the EU Green Deal to national implementation, it provides a roadmap to understanding how policy frameworks can help—or hinder—the journey toward sustainable agriculture.
Here’s what we found during our work:
