Conservation agrivoltaics for sustainable food-energy production

Authors: TIME, ALSON - University Of Illinois; GOMEZ-CASANOVAS, NURIA - Texas A&M University; MWEBAZE, PAUL - University Of Illinois; APOLLON, WILGINCE - Idaho State University; KHANNA, MAHDU - University Of Illinois; DELUCIA, EVAN - University Of Illinois; Bernacchi, Carl

Submitted to: Plants, People, Planet
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/26/2023
Publication Date: 1/11/2024
Citation: Time, A., Gomez-Casanovas, N., Mwebaze, P., Apollon, W., Khanna, M., DeLucia, E.H., Bernacchi, C.J. 2024. Conservation agrivoltaics for sustainable food-energy production. Plants, People, Planet. 6(3):558-569. https://doi.org/10.1002/ppp3.10481.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/ppp3.10481

Interpretive Summary: Our planet is facing a serious challenge: we need to produce more food and energy while protecting the environment. One new approach that might help us solve this problem is a technique called "agrivoltaics" (AV). AV involves setting up solar panels above fields where crops are growing. This allows us to create both food and energy in the same place, reducing the strain on our natural resources. But AV alone is not enough. In our study, we propose combining AV with what we call "Conservation Agriculture Management Practices" (CAMP). CAMP includes different strategies to grow crops in a way that is both climate-friendly and sustainable. The problem we're facing, however, is that the AV system is not without its own challenges. These include both agricultural and environmental issues that need to be addressed to ensure food and energy can be produced sustainably. We believe the use of CAMP in AV systems can help protect the environment and support food production that can adapt to climate changes. Implementing CAMP within AV can also help us store more carbon in the long term, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and maintain or even increase crop yields—all while preserving soil health and biodiversity. In fact, combining CAMP with AV could even lead to economic benefits. However, there are still some hurdles we need to overcome to make this a reality. We hope that our research encourages further exploration into this innovative method of balancing renewable energy and sustainable food production. Understanding the impact of conservation agriculture management practices on agrivoltaics systems will be a key step forward in creating a sustainable future.

Technical Abstract: Transformative strategies in agriculture are needed to address the World’s urgent challenges related to energy and food production while reinforcing natural resources and the environment. Agrivoltaics (AV) have emerged in the past decade as one solution to this fundamental challenge of improving energy and food security. AV are defined as the co-location, on the same land area, of solar photovoltaic panels (PV) above crops to optimize the production of food and energy sustainably simultaneously. Here we propose that AV together with Conservation Agriculture Management Practices (CAMP) strategies can help to sustainably intensify food safety and energy production while reinforcing natural resources and the environment. Our main assertions in this opinion article are that: (1) AV systems need to overcome several agronomical, environmental, and ecological challenges to intensify food and energy production sustainably; (2) CAMP applied to AV systems can preserve the environment and ensure climate-resilient food production; (3) implementation of CAMP in AV can lead to long-term carbon sequestration, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and maintain or increase crop yields while preserving soil health and biodiversity; and (4) Adoption of CAMP in AV can bring economic benefits, although challenges need to be overcome. This opinion article aims to pave the way for integrated action toward applying a new combined ecosystems approach to sustain the resilience of renewable energy and sustainable food production and further incentivize research to fully understand the implications of conservation agriculture management practices on agrivoltaics systems.