Potential for optimization of energy consumption and costs in saffron production in central Iran through data envelopment analysis and multi‐objective genetic algorithm

Abstract

Technical management of agricultural units plays an important role in increasing the yield, energy efficiency, and decreasing the production costs. Based on that, the present study aimed to evaluate and optimize the technical and economic efficiency in Saffron farms in the 2019-20 cropping season in Iran. Required data were collected from 70 Saffron farms through interviews and questionnaires and were analyzed and compared using two optimization methods including data envelopment analysis (DEA), and multi-objective genetic algorithm (MOGA). Based on the results related to the energy section, the total energy input was obtained as 43,578 MJ ha À1 before any optimization, while it was determined as 36,033 and 36,910 MJ ha À1 after optimization using DEA, and MOGA, respectively. Also DEA and MOGA methods improved the energy ratio index (ER) (0.002) by 50, and 159%, respectively. Results related to the economic section showed that the total production costs were mitigated from 1260 $ ha À1 to 863.5 and 1069 $ ha À1 after optimization by DEA, and MOGA, respectively. After optimization of revenue (using MOGA method), and total costs (using MOGA, and DEA), the benefit cost ratio index was improved from 1.43 to 2.09 (using DEA), and 3.3 (using MOGA). Consequently, MOGA optimization method showed better results compared to DEA in both energy and economic sections.

Energy, Environmental, and Economic Sustainability of Saffron Cultivation: Insights from the First European (Italian) Case Study

“…On the other hand, Khorramdel et al [19] observed a higher proportion of renewable energy compared to non-renewable energy but a higher share of direct energy compared to non-direct energy. Saeidi et al [23] observed more direct energy but a higher proportion of non-renewable energy compared to renewable energy. In summary, the comparison reveals consistent patterns in the dominance of renewable and indirect energy sources, but variations exist in the proportion and share of direct, indirect, renewable, and non-renewable energy among different studies.…”

“…In the context of saffron cultivation in Iran [13], the literature reports energy use efficiency, specific energy, and energy productivity values of 1.12, 13.35 MJ kg −1 , and 0.0749 kg MJ −1 , respectively, based on the combined metrics of stigma and by-products. Based on saffron stigma only, the values reported were 0.0044, 22.05 MJ kg −1 , and 0.0003 kg MJ −1 in the east of Iran [16]; 0.24 (0.0004), 51,235.15 MJ kg −1 , and 0.000019 kg MJ −1 in the northeast of Iran [12]; 0.035, 5590.72 MJ kg −1 , and 0.00018 kg MJ −1 in the northeast of Iran [22]; and 0.002, 8794.85 MJ kg −1 , and 0.00011 kg MJ −1 in the center of Iran [23].…”

“…Previous research has provided a narrow exploration of potential environmental impacts, employing a limited set of indicators and restricting the geographic scope to the Middle East [13,16,18,19]. Few studies have examined the production cost [20], as well as combined energy, economic, and environmental factors, as demonstrated in the other works [15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24].…”

Does agricultural mechanization improve agricultural environmental efficiency?

“…Researchers frequently employ micro-level data garnered through meticulous surveys to conduct efficiency assessments within localized geographical scopes. Noteworthy examples include studies that have used data from70 Saffron farms in Iran (Saeidi et al, 2022), rice farms in Korea (Nguyen et al, 2012), greenhouse tomato cultivation in Turkey (Turkten and Ceyhan, 2023), irrigated chickpea production in Iran and shrimp aquaculture in Vietnam (Trang et al, 2023). Second, a subset of researchers have studied this topic from the macroscopic perspective, using datasets spanning nine East Asian nations (Le et al, 2019) or focusing on a provincial scale within China (Guo et al, 2022;Zhang et al, 2022).…”

Material balance principle to estimate eco-efficiency of saffron-producers aiming reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in Iran

“…Saffron planting is considered a strategic and vital component of the national economy of Iran due to its unique position in job creation in the agricultural sector and the creation of significant foreign exchange income for this country. Some of the particular advantages of saffron are low irrigation, high product durability, exploitation for 5-7 years in one planting period, ease of transportation, productive employment, and significant currency enhancement, which has led to the development of its cultivated area in Iran, especially in areas without agricultural potential (Saeidi et al, 2022). The product's compatibility has made Iran the largest producer of saffron in the world, producing 430 tons of saffron in 2019, more than 90% of global production and 3.5% of global market share (Statista, 2020).…”