sustainability - SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry

Sustainability 2011 , 3 2359

EROI. The same was not true for wheat, which showed little change in EROI in the face of

increasing inputs. This suggests that additional investments of energy in rice production

are not improving yields but for wheat, these investments are still generating benefits. The

analysis shows quantitatively how fossil energy is a key driver of the Pakistani agricultural

system as it traces direct and indirect energy inputs to two major food crops.

Keywords: energy return on investment; per-hectare energy usage; wheat/rice output

energy; wheat/rice input energy

List of Acronyms and Abbreviations

EROI Energy return on investment

FAO Food and Agriculture Organization (United Nations)

FY Fiscal year (Pakistani fiscal year is July 1–June 30)

GAO Government Accountability Office (USA)

GDP Gross domestic product

GoP Government of Pakistan

HDIP Hydrocarbon Development Institute of Pakistan

HYV High-yielding variety

IFA International Fertilizer Industry Association (France)

IRRI International Rice Research Institute

K Potassium (fertilizer input)

N Nitrogen (fertilizer input)

NEA Net energy analysis

NFDC National Fertilizer Development Centre (Pakistan)

P Phosphorus (fertilizer input)

USD United States dollars

USDA United States Department of Agriculture (USA)

List of Units of Measurement

GJ Gigajoule

GWh Gigawatt-hour

ha Hectare

HP Horsepower

J Joule

kg Kilogram

kW Kilowatt

MAF Million acre-feet

MJ Megajoule

G