An overview of research undertaken in the NZERDC contracts "Energy in Agriculture"

Abstract

This report was commissioned by the New Zealand Energy Research and Development Committee. Its intention is to provide readers with an overview of the work undertaken by the Joint Centre for Environmental Sciences (now the Centre for Resource Management ) under contracts to the NZERDC entitled 'The Energy Costs of Agriculture in New Zealand'. These studies had as their objectives the calculation of the energy used to produce different agricultural commodities and the evaluation of alternative strategies for maintaining production in the face of energy shortages. Readers who wish more detailed information are advised to refer to the original reports.