Modelo emergético para evaluar la transición de sistemas productivos agrícolas en zonas subandinas: de monocultivo a agroforestal

Abstract

This research presents the design of an emergy-based mathematical model to evaluate the transition of agricultural production systems in sub-Andean regions, comparing monoculture (MON) and agroforestry (SAF) scenarios. A scientometric analysis of more than one hundred indexed publications was conducted to identify trends, key authors, and knowledge gaps in the application of the emergy approach to agricultural sustainability, revealing the limited representation of sub-Andean ecosystems in current research. The proposed model integrates climatic, edaphic, and management variables, all converted into solar equivalent energy (seJ) through transformity factors obtained from specialized literature. Based on these energy flows, the Key Emergy Sustainability Indices (ICSE)—EYR, ELR, ESI, and %R—were calculated. The results showed that the agroforestry system exhibits greater transformity efficiency, lower environmental pressure, and higher use of renewable resources, in contrast to monocultures characterized by a strong dependence on non-renewable inputs. Additionally, a heuristic decision-making algorithm was developed, based on systems theory and axiomatic modeling, to classify each system’s sustainability into three categories: favorable, conditional, or unsustainable. This instrument provides a replicable and adaptable method for guiding agroecological transitions based on quantitative evidence. Overall, the findings confirm that emergy serves as a robust tool for analyzing the energetic and ecological complexity of agroecosystems and that the transition toward agroforestry models represents an effective pathway toward a resilient, efficient, and sustainable agriculture in sub-Andean regions.