Renewable Energy for the Agricultural Sector to Enhance Energy Security and Food Security

This analytical report observes that the economic boom in the Asia-Pacific region has been fuelled by surges of energy consumption, especially of fossil fuels, including oil, gas and coal. However, high dependency on fossil fuels is aggravating the region’s vulnerability to volatile energy prices, threatening energy security. The establishment of a sustainable energy framework, with ramifications for the agricultural sector and rural development in terms of energy inputs for improved agricultural productivity, is discussed. Even though energy efficiency is seen as a valuable approach for cutting energy costs, the report argues for renewables as an option to supplement fossil fuels for the foreseeable future.