Energy Efficiency in Organic Aronia (Chokeberry) Production

The aim of this study was to determine the energy use efficiency of organic aronia (chokeberry) production in Yalova province, Türkiye. Aronia, which is a plant with high nutritional value, is used in the food and cosmetic industries and is of economic importance due to its added value. According to the purpose of the study, the data were obtained through interviews with 32 producers who are members of the aronia growers’ cooperative in Yalova, where chokeberry was first cultivated in Türkiye. As a result of the analyses made in the study, the total energy input in the organic aronia production was calculated as 55,645.29 MJ ha−1, energy output as 242,092.82 MJ ha−1, energy use efficiency as 4.35, specific energy as 2.40 MJ kg−1, energy efficiency as 0.42 kg MJ−1 and net energy as 186,447.52 MJ ha−1. In addition, the inputs used in the production of aronia were evaluated according to their renewability characteristics and the renewable energy input was determined to be 29,301.05 MJ ha−1 (52.66%) and the non-renewable energy input was determined to be 26,344.24 MJ ha−1 (47.34%). This result shows that organic production is important in terms of the effective use of renewable energy.