Optimization of arable land use to guarantee food security in Estonia
Laen...
Kuupäev
2018
Kättesaadav alates
Autorid
Põldaru, Reet
Viira, Ants-Hannes
Roots, Jüri
Ajakirja pealkiri
Ajakirja ISSN
Köite pealkiri
Kirjastaja
Abstrakt
Agricultural and food sector has an important role to play in ensuring food security.
A
competitive agricultural sector warrants fo
od security through increasing level of self
-
sufficiency in food, and export of surplus production in the sub
-
branches where it has a
comparative advantage. One of the strategic tasks of the state is to secure food supply for the
population. To perform thi
s task, the state should estimate if the agricultural producers have the
necessary capacity and resources to produce food to meet the needs of population. Mathematical
modelling can be used as a tool in solving this analytical problem. The paper demonstrat
es
possibilities of implementing linear programming model in optimizing the use of arable land for
ensuring the food demand of Estonian population. The Estonian arable land use optimization
model is essentially a static balancing model that simulates the d
emand and supply of basic food
products (meat, dairy products, cereal products and potatoes). The basis for the demand side in
the model is Estonian population, divided into 10 groups according to gender and age. The energy
and protein needs of the respect
ive population groups are taken into account. The supply side of
the model is a typical agricultural production model that guarantees the consistency of crop and
livestock farming. The model consists of 163 variables and 178 constraints (equations). The
ob
jective of the model is to minimize the use of arable land for field crops to ensure fodder for
animal feed, and food for human food consumption. The model is used to analyse various land
use strategies. According to the modelling results for ensuring food
security of Estonia and to
maintain export of dairy products, for which Estonia has a comparative advantage, in the 2016
volume, the total optimal arable land equals to 490,688
ha
. There should be 83,600 dairy cows
(with average milk yield 9,000
kg
cow
-
1
)
. It is necessary to grow
755,700 piglets per year in order
to secure 40
kg
of pork per inhabitant. Land use optimization results indicate that Estonian
agriculture is able to supply Estonian people with the minimum necessary main food products to
guarante
e food security, and allows to export essential products (cheese, butter, skimmed milk
powder, whole milk powder).
Kirjeldus
Article
Märksõnad
food security, linear programming model, Estonian agriculture, land use optimization, articles