SUSTAINABILITY ANALYSIS OF DATA-DRIVEN AGRICULTURAL ECOLOGICAL ECONOMIC SYSTEMS: A CASE STUDY OF NORTHERN ANHUI

The agro-eco-economic system (AEES) is a fundamental system underpinning human survival. To improve the evaluation of regional AEES performance, this study proposes an emergy-based framework for assessing sustainable development and constructs a corresponding evaluation index system. Applying this framework, we analyzed AEES data from the Northern Anhui from 2014 to 2023. Key findings reveal: The average total emergy input was 6.04×1022 solar emjoules (sej), while the average total emergy output was 5.08×1023 sej. The average emergy self-sufficiency ratio (ESR) and net emergy yield ratio (EYR) were 0.13 and 9.72, respectively, showing no significant temporal trend over the decade. The emergy investment ratio (EIR) and environmental loading ratio (ELR) exhibited a declining trend post-2017, indicating substantial yet gradually decreasing environmental pressure on the AEES. The average emergy sustainability index (ESI) was 1.15, with a moderate upward trend observed over the past five years, suggesting developing sustainability potential. Based on these results, the study provides targeted decision-making insights and management implications for advancing high-quality agricultural development in Northern Anhui. This research holds significant theoretical and practical relevance for sustainable AEES management.