The Efficiency–Profitability Paradox in Agri-Food Systems: Technoeconomic Analysis and Policy Implications in Cherry Production
摘要
Designing effective energy policies requires a deep understanding of the economic incentives that drive producer behavior, particularly in energy-intensive sectors like agriculture. This study provides a technoeconomic analysis of cherry production in Türkiye, a leading global supplier, to investigate a critical conflict between energy efficiency and economic viability at the enterprise level. We analyze and compare two dominant production systems based on a survey of 200 producers in the Trakya Region: a modern, fossil-fuel-intensive system (Type 1) for the domestic market and a traditional, less mechanized system (Type 2) for export. Our findings expose a significant “efficiency–profitability paradox.” The system with superior energy performance (Type 2), characterized by a higher energy output/input ratio (1.17) and a positive net energy balance (4304 MJ ha−1), was found to be economically less rewarding for producers. By contrast, the energy-inefficient system (Type 1), with a low energy ratio (0.57) and a substantial net energy deficit (−14,919 MJ ha−1), generated a 30% higher net profit. This discrepancy is primarily driven by market mechanisms that grant higher prices for the produce from the energy-intensive system. This paradox reveals a fundamental market failure where rational economic decisions by producers lead to suboptimal outcomes for energy system efficiency and resource management. The study concludes that policy interventions are essential to align profitability with sustainability. Recommendations focus on innovative market-based instruments, support for the diffusion of energy-saving technologies, and designing policies that address the real-world economic drivers of producer behavior, offering crucial insights for energy system analysis, planning, and management.