Energy Efficiency – The New Strategic Benchmark for Agricultural Competitiveness

Rising energy prices and the European Union’s new climate objectives are transforming energy efficiency into a strategic indicator of agricultural competitiveness. According to Eurostat (2024), Romania consumes over 70 kilograms of oil equivalent per hectare, about 20% above the EU average. Outdated equipment, irrigation losses, and the absence of energy recovery systems continue to keep costs high and reduce profitability.

Through the National Strategic Plan (PNS) 2023–2027, the Rural Investment Financing Agency (AFIR) has allocated €350 million to support the energy transition in agriculture, including investments in photovoltaic panels, biogas systems, heat pumps, and digital management systems. In 2024, more than 1,800 projects were submitted, most of them from dairy and vegetable farms. According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MADR), farms that have installed photovoltaic systems up to 200 kW and smart irrigation systems have reduced their total energy consumption by 25–30%.

In the livestock sector, technologies that recover heat from cooling or pasteurization processes can bring additional savings of around 15%, according to the International Dairy Federation (IDF, 2024). In the long term, the European Union will link post-2027 funding access to demonstrable energy performance. Farms that embrace green solutions today will gain a real competitive advantage — lower costs, greater financial stability, and a sustainable image that enhances access to partnerships with retailers and processors.

(Photo: Freepik)