Integration of agricultural and energy system models for biofuel assessment

  • Authors:

  • A. Elobeid;S. Tokgoz;R. Dodder;T. Johnson;O. Kaplan;L. Kurkalova;S. Secchi

  • Affiliations:

  • Center for Agricultural and Rural Development, Iowa State University, 568F Heady Hall, Ames, IA 50011-1070, USA;International Food Policy Research Institute, 2033 K Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20006-1002, USA;National Risk Management Research Laboratory, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 109 T.W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA;Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, 203 Old Chem. Building, Durham, NC 27708-0227, USA;National Risk Management Research Laboratory, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 109 T.W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA;Department of Economics, North Carolina A&T State University, 114 Merrick Hall, 1601 E. Market Street, Greensboro, NC 27411, USA and Department of Energy and Environmental Systems, North Carolina ...;Department of Agribusiness Economics, Southern Illinois University, 1205 Lincoln Drive, Carbondale, IL 62901, USA

  • Venue:
  • Environmental Modelling & Software
  • Year:
  • 2013

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Abstract

This paper presents a coupled modeling framework to capture the dynamic linkages between agricultural and energy markets that have been enhanced through the expansion of biofuel production, as well as the environmental impacts resulting from this expansion. The framework incorporates the interactions between agricultural and energy markets at the macro-level, and an assessment of production practices and environmental impacts at the micro (field)-level. For macro-level analysis, we use two existing modeling frameworks: the CARD U.S. agricultural markets model and the MARKAL energy systems model. The integrated modeling of agricultural and energy markets will be useful in analyzing a range of scenarios regarding the role of biomass feedstocks from the agricultural sector in an expanding market for biomass-based fuels and energy. Moreover, by linking the macro-level analysis to the micro-scale (field-level) analysis, we can represent shifts in farming practices, average productivity, and costs of production, as well as the environmental consequences of farmers' decisions resulting from the expansion of biomass feedstock production.