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Agroecology and Agri-PV – Rethinking Agriculture
While agroecology is based on natural cycles, biodiversity, and social participation, Agri-PV (agrivoltaics) introduces a technological dimension: it combines agricultural use with the generation of solar power on the same land.
Agroecology – Rethinking Farming
Agroecology is founded on ten key elements defined by the FAO, including diversity, knowledge sharing, resource efficiency, resilience, openness, and fairness.
It understands agriculture as a living system that interconnects ecological, economic, and social aspects.
Agri-PV systems can be seamlessly integrated into this concept. They enable sustainable dual land use by generating clean energy above the fields while plants continue to grow or animals graze beneath them.
This creates not only ecological but also economic added value.
Beneath the solar panels, a new microclimate develops that protects plants from heat, heavy rain, or frost.
At the same time, water and fertilizer needs decrease, reducing the use of external resources and preserving soil fertility.
Due to lower solar radiation, soil erosion slows down, moisture remains longer in the ground, and biological activity increases.
In addition, the structures of the solar modules provide habitats for insects and small animals, actively promoting biodiversity.
PV modules not only reduce the water requirements of shaded plants but also allow rainwater to be collected through a gutter at the end of the panels and stored in underground basins.
The Multiple Benefits of Agri-PV
Agri-PV can also serve as a driver of rural development.
It opens up new income sources for farmers, creates jobs at the intersection of agriculture and energy production, and strengthens regional economic cycles.
When combined with agroecological principles, it creates a system that is not only environmentally friendly but also socially equitable.
The solar power generated can directly contribute to local value creation – for example, by powering cooling, processing, or transportation of agricultural products – or it can be fed into the electricity grid and consumed in surrounding communities.
A Measurable Contribution to Sustainability
In line with ESG criteria, Agri-PV makes a measurable contribution to environmental, social, and good corporate governance objectives:
it reduces CO₂ emissions and protects biodiversity, promotes fair employment and local participation, and ensures transparency in land use.
It also directly supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals – from “Zero Hunger” (SDG 2) to “Affordable and Clean Energy” (SDG 7) and “Life on Land” (SDG 15).
Challenges and Concrete Perspectives
Of course, challenges remain: land-use conflicts, regulatory hurdles, and fair access to this technology must be addressed to prevent Agri-PV from becoming a privilege of large-scale actors.
However, the potential is enormous.
The combination of renewable energy and ecological agriculture can become a driving force for sustainable transformation.
Agri-PV is therefore not in opposition to agroecology – it is its natural evolution.
By linking ecological principles with technological progress, it creates resilient, climate-friendly, and economically viable systems.
In this way, a model emerges that strengthens food security, protects the climate, and revitalizes rural regions in the long term.
Photo: Adobe Stock
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