Journal of Innovative Agriculture, Volume 12, Issue 4 : 1-9. Doi : 10.37446/jinagri/ra/12.4.2025.1-9
Review Article

OPEN ACCESS | Published on : 31-Dec-2025

Agrivoltaics in India: advancing food security, renewable energy, and ecosystem services through integrated land use for sustainable development goals

  • Mohanraj Rithiga
  • SRM College of Agricultural Sciences, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Baburayanpettai – 603 201, Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu, India.
  • Govindaraj Kamalam Dinesh
  • Department of Biochemistry, Physiology, Microbiology and Environmental Science, College of Agriculture, Central Agricultural University, Iroisemba, Imphal, Manipur – 795 004, India.
  • Veluswamy Venkatramanan
  • School of Interdisciplinary and Transdisciplinary Studies, Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi, India.
  • Rachana Dubey
  • ICAR-Research Complex for Eastern Region, Patna, Bihar – 800 014, India.
  • Rajan Bhatt
  • PAU-Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Amritsar – 143 601, Punjab, India.
  • Prakash Kumar Sarangi
  • Department of Biochemistry, Physiology, Microbiology and Environmental Science, College of Agriculture, Central Agricultural University, Iroisemba, Imphal, Manipur – 795 004, India.
  • Mohan Packialakshmi
  • School of Agricultural Science, Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan University, Tiruchirappalli – 621 112, India.
  • Nedumaran Sethupathi
  • State Division, Niti Aayog, New Delhi – 110 001, Government of India, India.
  • Allimuthu Elangovan
  • ICAR – Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi – 110 012, India.
  • Punabati Heisnam
  • Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Central Agricultural University, Iroisemba, Imphal, Manipur – 795 004, India.
  • Nath Karthika
  • College of Climate Change and Environmental Science, Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur, Kerala, India.
  • Suresh Parvathy
  • College of Climate Change and Environmental Science, Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur, Kerala, India.
  • Veerapandian Karthick
  • Centre for Economic Studies and Policy (CESP), Institute for Social and Economic Change (ISEC), Nagarbhavi Post, Bengaluru - 560 072, India.

Abstract

The world is facing a pressing issue: an increasing population and a shrinking area under cultivation. However, it is unrealistic to increase food production and optimize energy production on existing land. The agrivoltaics system proves to be a panacea for integrating energy production with agriculture. Agrivoltaics is the concept of using the same land for both crop production and solar energy generation. It is defined as agricultural production, such as crop or livestock production, that occurs underneath or adjacent to solar panels. Through photovoltaics, it is possible to co-locate solar and agricultural power on the same land, providing benefits to both the solar and farming industries. This integrated approach enables the simultaneous production of food and electricity by effectively capturing solar radiation. The approach will allow us to address food security problems on the one hand and minimize our dependence on non-renewable sources on the other, thus paving the way for a sustainable environment.

Keywords

agrivoltaics, food security, renewable energy, ecosystem services, SDGs, India

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