Eco-Efficiency in the Agricultural Sector: A Cross-Country Comparison Between the European Union and Türkiye

Abstract

This study conducts a macro-level comparative analysis of the eco-efficiency in the agricultural sectors of the European Union (EU) member states and Türkiye from 2003 to 2022. By treating countries as decision-making units, this research offers a holistic overview of how national-level inputs and outputs shape the aggregate performance, focusing on the trade-offs between economic value generation and environmental pressures. An input-oriented Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) model, based on Variable Returns to Scale (VRS), was employed. The model employs three inputs—compensation of employees (COE), energy consumption (EC), and gross fixed capital formation (GFC)—and two outputs—agricultural gross domestic product (GDP) and GHG emissions (GGEs). All variables were normalized by agricultural land area per country to account for scale differences. The findings reveal significant disparities in the eco-efficiency across countries and over time. Notably, Türkiye consistently demonstrated a high performance, frequently serving as a benchmark. In contrast, several Eastern European countries exhibited lower scores, suggesting significant room for structural improvement at the national level. The results point to the considerable potential for reducing energy and labor inputs in many countries. Instead of offering specific policy prescriptions, this study provides a diagnostic tool that identifies national-level performance gaps, informs policy discussions on resource allocation, and highlights priority areas for more detailed investigation.