Geothermal energy which is
the heat energy radiating from the earth’s core
has been discovered to provide unique opportunities for cost efficient, sustainable
food production and processing in developing countries, according to
information released by FAO and made available to NaijaAgroNet .
According to Carlos da Silva, Senior
Agribusiness Economist in FAO, “It’s an energy source that’s renewable, clean
and low-cost once you’ve made the initial investment to harness it.”
Da Silva who works in FAO’s Rural Infrastructure
and Agribusiness Division said that “By
using a clean energy source, you’re not only addressing cost but also the
environmental impacts of food production and processing,” NaijaAgroNet reports.
Agriculture both consumes energy and
emits greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming. Research suggests
that using geothermal heating for greenhouses decreases fungus infections and
cuts fuel costs by up to 80 per cent, providing significant savings to
operating budgets.
In some developing economies, as
much as half of all food produced is lost post-harvest – that's due in part to
a lack of affordable energy for food processing, according to “Uses of
Geothermal Energy in Food and Agriculture.”
“Geothermal energy for agriculture
can be done even at small-scales and can significantly contribute to income
generation, providing employment and improving food and nutrition security in
developing countries,” adds Divine Njie, AGS Deputy Director and co-editor of
the report.
Worldwide, 38 countries currently
use geothermal energy for direct application in agricultural production and
some 24 countries harness it to generate electricity, with Iceland, Costa Rica,
El Salvador, Kenya, New Zealand and the Philippines deriving more than 10 per cent
of their electricity needs from natural heat sources.
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