Introduction
The world is witnessing a rapid growth of energy consumption as a result of population increase and technological advances. In addition, food waste remains one of the major challenges facing the world’s food system. These two challenges are intricately linked, as the amount of energy used in the production and transportation of food is directly proportional to the amount of food waste generated.
How Energy is Consumed in Food Production
The process of producing food involves the use of a considerable amount of energy. This energy is used in activities such as tilling, seed planting, irrigation, harvesting, transportation, processing, packaging, and distribution. The use of energy in food production is increasing due to the adoption of modern technologies, which require more energy to function.
According to the United Nations, the food industry is the largest industrial user of energy in developed countries. In the US, for example, the food sector accounts for over 10% of the country’s energy consumption. The use of energy in food production is expected to rise further, as the world’s population is projected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050.
Food Waste and its Link to Energy Consumption
Food waste occurs at every stage of the food system, from production to consumption. Globally, around one-third of all food produced is wasted, amounting to 1.3 billion tonnes per year. This has significant environmental, social, and economic impacts.
In addition to contributing to greenhouse gas emissions, food waste also wastes the energy used in its production, transportation, and storage. When food is wasted, all the energy that went into producing and transporting it is also wasted. It is estimated that the energy used in producing wasted food globally is equivalent to 4.4 billion tons of oil.
Energy Recovery from Food Waste
Although food waste contributes to climate change and loss of resources, it can also be a valuable source of energy. The process of converting food waste into energy is called anaerobic digestion. In anaerobic digestion, microorganisms break down organic waste (including food waste) in the absence of oxygen, producing biogas, which can be used to generate electricity and heat.
Anaerobic digestion not only produces renewable energy, but it also diverts waste from landfills, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, and promotes a circular economy. In addition, anaerobic digestion can reduce the amount of energy needed to dispose of waste in landfills.
Conclusion
The world’s population is growing, and so is the amount of energy used in food production. However, the problem of food waste is also on the rise. This is not only a waste of food but also a waste of the valuable energy used in food production. Through the adoption of innovative technologies such as anaerobic digestion, food waste can be converted into a valuable source of renewable energy. This not only promotes sustainable development, but it also reduces the amount of waste sent to landfills and mitigates the impacts of climate change.