Food and energy (i): state of the question

Abstract

The energy contained in food comes from solar energy captured by photosynthetic organisms. With an average individual human food need of 1,050 kWh/person/year (2,500 kcal/person/day), the world food chain consumed an average of 3,960 kWh/person/year to produce, process and distribute this food in 2008, with values 3.2 times higher in the 50 countries with the highest incomes and 1.8 times lower in the other countries. This energy consumption of the food system accounted for 29.2 % of the final energy of the entire world energy system of that year, and an estimated 37.9 % of this figure went to food losses and food waste. Given the importance of this sector in the energy system, and in a context of transition to a sustainable energy and social model, energy optimization of the food complex is a priority, while ensuring access to balanced and sufficient food for humans with a reduction in inequalities and waste. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the state of the question based on statistical data for various territorial areas worldwide. In a second article, future consequences and prospects will be analyzed, with particular emphasis on Catalonia.

Keywords: food, FAO data, energy, fertilizers, food waste.