Exploring Agrivoltaics: Balancing Crop Production and Solar Energy for Sustainable Agriculture - Volume 2

Agrivoltaics, an innovative field that integrates agriculture with solar photovoltaic power generation, is gaining attraction as a sustainable solution to meet the dual demands of food and energy production. This approach allows the simultaneous cultivation of several crops and generation of clean energy on the same land, offering a promising strategy to optimize land use. The microclimate created by photovoltaic panels can significantly influence plant growth and development, affecting leaf morphology, physiology, and overall plant activity. While shading from panels may limit photosynthetic activity, many crops exhibit adaptability to varying light conditions. However, in times of climate changes, shading can also lower temperature and evapotranspiration, reducing irrigation needs and increasing resilience to extreme weather events. Beyond conventional crop systems, the field is now expanding toward livestock grazing, aquaculture, dynamic and adjustable panel structures, novel photovoltaic materials, and artificial intelligence-based monitoring tools. Despite these advantages, there is a need for comprehensive research to understand the full implications of agrivoltaic systems, including their impact on crop yield, quality, biodiversity, and economic and environmental sustainability.This Research Topic aims to explore the multifaceted aspects of agrivoltaics in crop production, focusing on identifying suitable crops for these systems, optimal cultivation methods, and long-term projections of crop and energy performance. The research will focus into microclimatic changes induced by solar panels, their effects on yield and crop quality, and the adaptability of different crops, while also considering emerging directions such as dynamic and adjustable panel structures, novel photovoltaic materials, and the integration of artificial intelligence and smart monitoring tools for crop-energy co-optimization. Additionally, it will address economic considerations, policy and regulatory frameworks, social acceptance, sustainability assessments, and innovative cultural and technical practices that can enhance crop cultivation under photovoltaic arrays. By providing a comprehensive overview of these elements, the research seeks to inform and motivate scientists, farmers, and consumers to better understand and possibly apply agrivoltaic systems, thereby contributing to the sustainable production of food and energy.To gather further insights in the integration of agriculture and solar energy production, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:- Crop selection and cultural practices- Long-term effects on crop production and solar arrays- Light management under solar panels- Transparent solar panels for agriculture- Water management and collection during scarcity- Changes in plant metabolic pathways- Temperature variations- Agrivoltaic impacts on fruit and plant organ quality- Monitoring systems and sensor technology- Species and cultivar adaptability- Interactions with mechanization and precision agriculture- Economic benefits for farmers- Development of crop-specific models- Effects on biodiversity: advantages and drawbacks- Artificial intelligence and machine learning for yield forecasting, predictive maintenance, and crop-energy co-optimization- Dynamic, tracking, and adjustable photovoltaic structures for crop-responsive shading- Novel photovoltaic materials, including semi-transparent, organic, and spectrally-selective panels- Integration with livestock grazing and aquaculture systems (livestockvoltaics and aquavoltaics)- Soil health, carbon dynamics, and long-term ecosystem resilience under agrivoltaic systems- Techno-economic assessment, revenue-sharing, and co-ownership business models- Policy, regulatory frameworks, and standardization for agrivoltaic deployment- Social acceptance and stakeholder perception of agrivoltaic systems- Climate change adaptation and resilience to extreme weather events- Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and holistic sustainability assessment of agrivoltaic systems- Trade-offs and synergies between food production, renewable energy generation, ecosystem services, and biodiversity- Resource efficiency and water-energy-food nexus in agrivoltaic systems Topic editors: Leonardo Lombardini, Moritz Wagner, Giuseppe Ferrara, Andrea Mazzeo Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/84065/exploring-agrivoltaics-balancing-crop-production-and-solar-energy-for-sustainable-agriculture---volume-2