Rajan Wilcox
Food systems are highly dependent on fossil fuels, which account for at least 15% of global fossil fuel use annually. This is due to the energy-intensive nature of industrial agriculture, which relies on fossil fuels for crop management, machinery, and the production of fertilisers, pesticides, and animal feed. The food system is also heavily reliant on fossil fuels for transportation, processing, and refrigeration, contributing to the overall carbon footprint of food production. As food systems become more globalised, the demand for energy-intensive and ultra-processed foods is rising, further increasing the use of fossil fuels. To reduce this dependence on fossil fuels and enhance global food security, it is crucial to adopt more sustainable practices and transition to renewable energy sources.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Food systems' contribution to fossil fuel use | 15% of global fossil fuel use annually, driving as many emissions as all EU countries and Russia combined |
| Food systems' contribution to global energy consumption | 30% of the world's total energy consumption |
| Food systems' contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions | 20% of global greenhouse gas emissions |
| Fossil fuel use in food production by stage | Agriculture: 21% of US food production energy; Processing and packaging: 42% of fossil fuel use in the food system; Retail, consumption and waste: 38% of fossil fuel use in the food system |
| Fossil fuel use in food production by input | Fertilizers, pesticides, animal feed, vaccines, farm machinery, plastics and equipment: 5% of fossil fuel use in the food system; Land use and agricultural production: 15% of fossil fuel use in the food system |
| Alternatives to fossil fuels in food production | Electrification using renewable energy sources like solar energy and hydro; Less carbon-intensive ways to capture nitrogen; Biofuels like corn and maize; Biomaterials like livestock manure and edible food waste; On-farm energy sources like small-scale hydropower and solar farming |
| Challenges in transitioning to alternative energy sources in food production | Biofuel and biomaterial production takes away land from food production, increasing greenhouse gas emissions, pressure on water resources, contributing to pollution and increasing food costs; Policies encouraging biofuel production can lead to deforestation |
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What You'll Learn
- Fossil fuels are used in the production of fertilisers, pesticides, animal feed, vaccines, farm machinery, plastics and equipment
- Agriculture uses fossil fuels for crop management and machinery production
- Fossil fuels are used in the transportation of food
- Processing and packaging of food is energy-intensive
- Retail, consumption and waste account for a large percentage of fossil fuel use
Fossil fuels are used in the production of fertilisers, pesticides, animal feed, vaccines, farm machinery, plastics and equipment
Fossil fuels are integral to the production of fertilisers, pesticides, animal feed, vaccines, farm machinery, plastics, and equipment. The food system is now more dependent than ever on finite fossil fuel resources. In many cases, our food is embedded with more "fossil fuel calories" than nutritional calories. For example, in Slovenia, 7 fossil fuel calories are required to provide just 1 calorie of meat consumed.
Fertilisers and pesticides are a key part of the global food supply chain. Fossil fuels are used to produce synthetic nitrogen fertiliser through the Haber-Bosch process, which is energy-intensive and releases an estimated 450 million tons of carbon dioxide annually. Fossil fuels are also used to produce pesticides, which, alongside fertilisers, are interdependent inputs to a destructive food production model that is contributing to biodiversity collapse, toxic pollution, and human rights violations.
Animal feed production is another significant user of fossil fuels. Around 37% of global cereal production and 34% of arable land is used to provide animal feed, which contributes to the release of nitrous oxide and other gases. Meat, egg, and milk production also contribute to these emissions, and the efficiency with which animal feed is converted to meat is a key consideration. Cattle farming, for example, can require up to 10 kg of cereal per kilogram of meat produced, resulting in a significant demand for land and resources.
Farm machinery and equipment are also produced using fossil fuels. In industrial agriculture, crops are dependent on diesel for machinery and oil for food distribution. Machinery and equipment account for around 15% of fossil fuel use in the food system, which includes energy used for ventilation, greenhouse heating, fertiliser distribution systems, and drying the harvest.
Plastics are produced using petrochemical feedstocks, such as naphtha and other oils refined from crude oil. The petrochemical industry also consumes large quantities of hydrocarbon gas liquids (HGLs). HGLs are used as feedstocks for petrochemical crackers, which produce the basic building blocks for plastics.
While information about fossil fuel use in vaccine production is limited, it is known that fossil fuels are used at various stages of the food production process, including input production, land use, agricultural production, processing, and packaging.
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Agriculture uses fossil fuels for crop management and machinery production
Agriculture is heavily dependent on fossil fuels, which are used for crop management and machinery production. Fossil fuels are used to produce fertilisers, pesticides, and machinery, and to power irrigation pumps and machinery. This direct and indirect use of fossil fuels in agriculture contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions.
In industrial agriculture, crops rely on large amounts of nitrogen-based fertilisers, which are produced using fossil fuels. The Haber-Bosch process, which produces synthetic nitrogen fertiliser, is energy-intensive and releases approximately 450 million tons of carbon dioxide annually. Fossil fuels are also used to produce pesticides, with synthetic fertilisers and pesticides contributing to the intensification of crop production.
Machinery production and use are another significant way that agriculture uses fossil fuels. The energy embodied in tractors and other agricultural machinery contributes to the overall fossil fuel intensity of food production. Additionally, machinery often runs on diesel and gasoline, further increasing the direct use of fossil fuels in agriculture.
The use of fossil fuels in agriculture is not sustainable in the long term. As the demand for food increases, so does the pressure on fossil fuel resources. This has led to rising fertiliser prices, impacting farmers' livelihoods and food security. To reduce dependence on fossil fuels, alternatives such as electrification using renewable energy sources and more efficient crop management practices need to be adopted.
Overall, agriculture's use of fossil fuels for crop management and machinery production is a significant contributor to global fossil fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Transforming agricultural practices and supply chains is crucial to achieving a more sustainable and secure food system.
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Fossil fuels are used in the transportation of food
Fossil fuels are integral to the transportation of food. Food systems account for at least 15% of global fossil fuel use annually, with fossil fuels being used at every step of the food chain. The transportation of food is a significant contributor to this figure.
The food system is highly globalised, with food products travelling long distances from farm to fork. This reliance on fossil fuels for food transportation is only expected to increase as the food system becomes more globalised, and products are required to travel even further. The fossil fuel industry has invested heavily in petrochemicals, which are crucial for food-related plastics and fertilisers, further entrenching the use of fossil fuels in the food system.
In addition to the transportation of food itself, the transportation of inputs and machinery used in food production also contributes to fossil fuel use. Machinery, such as tractors and irrigation pumps, often run on diesel and gasoline, and the production and transportation of these machines contribute to fossil fuel emissions.
The transportation of food is a critical component of the food system's dependence on fossil fuels. To reduce this dependence, efforts must be made to adopt renewable energy sources, improve energy efficiency, and reduce food waste.
Furthermore, it is worth noting that the Paris Climate Agreement and the goal of net-zero emissions by 2050 require a significant reduction in the use of fossil fuels in the food system. This includes electrifying transport and revolutionising the way we produce and consume food to minimise the \"fossil fuel calories\" embedded in our meals.
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Processing and packaging of food is energy-intensive
Food systems are highly energy-intensive and dependent on fossil fuels across the value chain. Processing and packaging, including all energy used in warehousing, plastic production, transport, refrigeration, and the processing of ultra-processed foods, account for around 42% of fossil fuel use in the food system. This stage is particularly energy-intensive due to its reliance on energy-intensive processes such as refrigeration systems, transport, and packaging manufacturing. As the food system becomes more globalized, products will need to travel further, requiring better packaging to stay fresh and stricter processing requirements, all of which will demand more fuel.
The production of inputs like fertilizers, pesticides, animal feed, vaccines, farm machinery, plastics, and equipment accounts for around 5% of fossil fuel use in the food system. Most of this is used to produce fertilizers, especially synthetic nitrogen. The Haber-Bosch process, which produces synthetic nitrogen fertilizer, is energy-intensive, requiring high temperatures and pressure to catalyze a reaction between hydrogen and nitrogen molecules. This process releases an estimated 450 million tons of carbon dioxide annually, equivalent to the total energy system emissions of South Africa.
Land use and agricultural production, including energy used to power machinery and equipment, ventilation, greenhouse heating, fertilizer distribution systems, feed production, animal housing, and drying the harvest, account for approximately 15% of fossil fuel use in the food system. Retail, consumption, and waste account for about 38% of fossil fuel use. This includes food waste, the energy involved in cooking and transport, and embedded plastics. In higher-income countries, the energy intensity of retail is particularly high due to the prevalence of refrigerated containers and factory-processed foods.
The food system is both a consumer of fossil fuels and a producer of energy that can substitute for them. Biofuels like corn and maize, biomaterials such as livestock manure and edible food waste, and on-farm energy sources like small-scale hydropower and solar farming all contribute to this energy cycle. However, the production of biofuels and biomaterials takes away land from food production, increasing greenhouse gas emissions, putting pressure on water resources, contributing to pollution, and potentially increasing food costs due to scarcity.
To reduce the dependence on fossil fuels in the food system, it is essential to transition to more sustainable and renewable energy sources, improve energy efficiency, and reduce food waste.
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Retail, consumption and waste account for a large percentage of fossil fuel use
Fossil fuels have been a fundamental driver of technological, social, and economic development since the Industrial Revolution. While they have enabled rising prosperity, their impact on health and the climate is significant, with fossil fuels being the largest driver of global climate change. In the context of food production, fossil fuels are used in various stages, from farm to table, and their consumption is often reflected in the number of "fossil fuel calories" embedded in our meals.
Retail, consumption, and waste are integral parts of the food production cycle and contribute significantly to fossil fuel usage. Retailers play a crucial role in the transition to a low-carbon economy. They can improve energy efficiency by adopting technologies like LED lighting, more efficient HVAC systems, heat pumps, and on-site solar power generation. Additionally, they can decarbonize their transportation fleets by transitioning to zero-emissions vehicles, as well as addressing refrigerant leaks in refrigeration systems, which are a particular concern for grocers.
The costs of emissions abatement vary across retail subsectors. For example, apparel retailers located in multi-unit buildings may face high costs when converting to heat pumps, while grocers with owned transportation fleets will incur higher costs due to the need for cold chains. However, overall, retailers can expect increases in their annual capital budgets and cost of goods sold as they navigate the transition to sustainability.
On the consumption side, the energy required to transport, refrigerate, and cook food contributes to fossil fuel usage. The type of fuel used and the number of calories from fossil fuels compared to nutritional calories vary by food group and country. For instance, in Slovenia, it takes seven calories of fossil fuel to provide one calorie of meat consumed.
Lastly, waste disposal in the context of food waste and power plant by-products also contributes to fossil fuel usage. Power plants that combust fossil fuels generate solid residues, including ash and slag, which are often disposed of in ponds and landfills. This waste can lead to groundwater contamination and environmental incidents, emphasizing the need to transition to renewable energy sources and revolutionize our food systems to align with the Paris Climate Agreement.
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Frequently asked questions
Fossil fuels are used in food production for crop management, fertilisers, pesticides, machinery, transportation, refrigeration, and processing ultra-processed foods.
Food systems account for at least 15% of global fossil fuel use annually, which is about 30% of the world's total energy consumption. This contributes to 20% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
To reduce the use of fossil fuels in food production, we can move towards renewable energy sources, electrify transport, and revolutionise the way we produce and consume food. We can also reduce food waste, as wasting less food conserves energy in food production.
