Agricultural Environmental Kuznets Curve: A Panel Data Approach
Abstract
This study employs a panel regression model to empirically examine the association between environmental degradation and agricultural performance across a sample of 150 nations over the period of 2000-2020. Agricultural methane emissions serve as a metric for quantifying environmental damage. The measurement of agricultural performance is represented by two variables, namely, the net value added for agriculture and the livestock production index. While agricultural production is a significant source of methane emissions, it is noteworthy that the majority of existing literature mostly focuses on carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. The primary contribution of this study lies in the utilization of methane emissions as a surrogate measure for assessing the extent of environmental degradation. The findings substantiate the credibility of the agricultural Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC), indicating a curvilinear association between agricultural net value added and methane emissions, characterised by an inverted U shape. In addition, it is worth noting that animal production exerts a substantial adverse influence on methane emissions. Hence, the development in net value-added in the agricultural sector might lead to a reduction in environmental degradation. Therefore, the results indicate that the use of agricultural production techniques and agricultural technology approaches is recommended in order to promote a more environmentally sustainable global context.
Keywords
Environmental Kuznets Curves, Panel Data, Agriculture, Net Value Added, Methane
References
- Agboola, M. O. & Bekun, F. V. (2019). Does agricultural value added induce environmental degradation? Empirical evidence from an agrarian country. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 26(27), 27660-27676.
- Appiah, K., Du, J. & Poku, J. (2018). Causal relationship between agricultural production and carbon dioxide emissions in selected emerging economies. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 25, 24764–24777.
- Aydoğan, B. & Vardar, G. (2020). Evaluating the role of renewable energy, economic growth and agriculture on CO2 emission in E7 countries. International Journal of Sustainable Energy, 39(4), 335-348.
- Aziz, N., Sharif, A., Raza, A. & Rong, K. (2020). Revisiting the role of forestry, agriculture, and renewable energy in testing environment Kuznets curve in Pakistan: evidence from Quantile ARDL approach. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 27, 10115-10128.
- Balsalobre-Lorente, D., Driha, O. M, Bekun, F. V. & Osundina, A. O. (2019). Do agricultural activities induce carbon emissions? The BRICS experience. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 26(24), 25218-25234.
- Baltagi, B. H. (2005). Econometric analysis of panel data (3rd ed.). West Sussex: John Wiley and Sons.
- Coderoni, S. & Esposti, R. (2014). Is There a Long-Term Relationship Between Agricultural GHG Emissions and Productivity Growth? A Dynamic Panel Data Approach. Environmental Resource Economics, 58, 273–302.
- Cetin, M., Bakirtas, I. & Yildiz, N. (2022). Does agriculture-induced environmental Kuznets curve exist in developing countries?. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 29, 34019–34037.
- DeAngelo B. J., de la Chesnaye F. C., Beach R. H., Sommer A. & Murray B. C. (2006). Methane and nitrous oxide mitigation in agriculture. The Energy Journal, 27, 89–108.
- Dogan, N. (2016). Agriculture and Environmental Kuznets Curves in the case of Turkey: evidence from the ARDL and bounds test. Agricultural Economics – Czech, 62(12), 566-574.
