Model of Relationships between Photovoltaic Solar Energy and Agribusiness

Authors

Martínez Soto, Moisés Enrique

Rodriguez Monroy, Carlos

Núñez, Yilsy

Prado Carpio, Eveligh

Lemus-León, Eduardo

Olivo, Lourdes

Abstract

There is an increasing use of alternative renewable energies, among them the application of photovoltaic solar energy, due to the variation in oil and coal prices, in addition to the implications of global warming. Energy is one of the main variables in the function of agribusiness and one of the fundamental inputs in production systems. Thus, there is a trend towards a paradigm shift from the farmer-aquaculturist, producer of food and raw materials for industry, to the farmer who produces energy, as well as food and agro-industrial raw materials, which encourages the diversification of production in the field and the generation of new sources of income for rural producers. The objective of this research is to develop a relationships model between the photovoltaic energy and agribusiness constructs, in order to achieve higher levels of productivity, competitiveness and sustainability. To this end, the system dynamics methodology was used, through the simulation software Vensim PLE ® v. 5.10. The main result consisted in the elaboration of the causal diagram and the determination of the first, second and third order influences. It is concluded that: a) There is a relationship of interdependence between the constructs of agribusiness and photovoltaic solar energy; b) Diversified agroproduction is an essential construct to understand and integrate the interdependent relationships between photovoltaic energy and agribusiness; c) Public policies and knowledge management constitute two positive feedback loops that can accelerate the massive integration processes of photovoltaic energy to agribusinesses through agro-production; d) Poor final disposal of photovoltaic waste, conflicts over land use and overexploitation of aquifers for irrigation purposes represent three negative feedback loops that could stop and even reverse the progress that has occurred to date or that may occur in the future in the process of interrelationships between photovoltaic energy and agribusiness. It is recommended to validate the model.