This study proposes techno‐economic and agricultural best practices for increasing the efficiency of bioenergy companies. A mixed method was developed for increasing efficiency through the application of a two‐stage data envelopment analysis (DEA), followed by a multiple case study. The efficiency concept model was based on the capacity of a sugarcane grower to maximize the production of sugarcane per planted area, while minimizing the generation of mineral and vegetable impurities. A multiple linear regression analysis was performed to identify the variables that exerted a major influence on the performance of the bioenergy companies. The quantitative approach developed here pointed to the identification of six variables that served as the basis for the qualitative stage of this research project. Through qualitative analysis, five other relevant variables were identified: cultivation activities, sugarcane renewal, edaphoclimatic factors, sugarcane genetic variety, and irrigation systems. Based on the identified variables, multiple case studies were conducted in Brazil and Australia to identify best practices that should yield superior results in terms of techno‐economic and agricultural efficiency. One hundred best practices were identified and grouped according to the stages of the sugarcane production process and each category of technology, agricultural, and management practices. Most best practices were related to two specific stages of the sugarcane production process: (i) crop development and (ii) harvesting. Although Australia presented a greater concentration of best technology and agricultural practices, Brazil presented a greater concentration of best management practices, highlighting the potential and characteristics of each producing region. Thus, the results provide fundamental information for managers to make decisions and prioritize key factors that contribute most significantly to increasing the agricultural productivity of planted areas. Finally, as a practical contribution, a free online platform was developed for self‐assessment of adherence to best practices by growers and an implementation methodology to increase efficiency in sugarcane production.

中文翻译：

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提高生物能源公司效率的技术经济和农业最佳实践：巴西和澳大利亚土地利用优化的混合方法


本研究提出了提高生物能源公司效率的技术经济和农业最佳实践。开发了一种混合方法，通过应用两阶段数据包络分析 （DEA） 来提高效率，然后进行多个案例研究。效率概念模型基于甘蔗种植者的能力，即最大限度地提高单位种植面积的甘蔗产量，同时最大限度地减少矿物质和蔬菜杂质的产生。进行了多元线性回归分析，以确定对生物能源公司业绩产生重大影响的变量。这里开发的定量方法指出了六个变量的确定，这些变量是本研究项目定性阶段的基础。通过定性分析，确定了其他五个相关变量：种植活动、甘蔗更新、甘蔗气候因素、甘蔗遗传品种和灌溉系统。根据确定的变量，在巴西和澳大利亚进行了多个案例研究，以确定应在技术经济和农业效率方面产生卓越结果的最佳实践。确定了 100 种最佳实践，并根据甘蔗生产过程的各个阶段以及技术、农业和管理实践的每类进行了分组。大多数最佳实践与甘蔗生产过程的两个特定阶段有关：（i） 作物发育和 （ii） 收获。尽管澳大利亚的最佳技术和农业实践更加集中，但巴西的最佳管理实践更加集中，突出了每个产区的潜力和特点。 因此，结果为管理人员做出决策和优先考虑对提高种植区农业生产力最重要的关键因素提供了基本信息。最后，作为一项实际贡献，开发了一个免费的在线平台，用于自我评估种植者对最佳实践的遵守情况，以及提高甘蔗生产效率的实施方法。