Optimization of Agricultural Activity in Iran to Limit Carbon Emissions Using Leontief Input-Output Model

Identifying and prioritizing the key economic activities has a significant role in economic planning and policy-making, therefore, diverse methods have been developed and presented for this purpose. Besides, nowadays, pollution is also one of the globally critical issues. The aim of this study was to determine the key activities of the agricultural sector by considering carbon emission limitations, using numerical taxonomy methods, demand-driven (Leontief) and supply-driven (Ghosh) models, row and column multiplier, backward and forward dispersion index, carbon emission rate, profitability index and the ratio of water consumption value to value-added. Using numerical taxonomy methods, demand-driven, and supply-driven models, increasing row and column coefficients show that beekeeping and its associated activities are at the highest rank. The results obtained by using these models and backward and forward dispersion indexes show that forestry is also a key activity. These results and analysis of carbon emissions data indicate that the sub-sector forestry and beekeeping activities, which are located in the sub-sector of animal breeding, emit less carbon and create high value-added products.