Reducing energy inputs in the US food system

David Pimentel; Sean Williamson; Courtney E. Alexander; Omar Gonzalez-Pagan; Caitlin Kontak; Steven E. Mulkey

doi:10.1007/s10745-008-9184-3

Reducing energy inputs in the US food system

David Pimentel, Sean Williamson, Courtney E. Alexander, Omar Gonzalez-Pagan, Caitlin Kontak, Steven E. Mulkey

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

146 Scopus citations

Abstract

Petroleum and natural gas are the primary fuels in the US food system. Both fuels are now in short supply and significant quantities are being imported into the USA from various nations. An investigation documented that fossil energy use in the food system could be reduced by about 50% by appropriate technology changes in food production, processing, packaging, transportation, and consumption. The results suggest that overall, farmers benefit as well as consumers.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	459-471
Number of pages	13
Journal	Human Ecology
Volume	36
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s10745-008-9184-3
State	Published - Aug 2008
Externally published	Yes

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
Acknowledgements We wish to express our sincere gratitude to the Cornell Association of Professors Emeriti for the partial support of our research through the Albert Podell Grant Program.

Keywords

Agriculture
Energy conservation
Food packaging
Food system
Food transport
Land resources
Nutrients
USA

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1007/s10745-008-9184-3

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abstract = "Petroleum and natural gas are the primary fuels in the US food system. Both fuels are now in short supply and significant quantities are being imported into the USA from various nations. An investigation documented that fossil energy use in the food system could be reduced by about 50% by appropriate technology changes in food production, processing, packaging, transportation, and consumption. The results suggest that overall, farmers benefit as well as consumers.",

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note = "Funding Information: Acknowledgements We wish to express our sincere gratitude to the Cornell Association of Professors Emeriti for the partial support of our research through the Albert Podell Grant Program.",

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AU - Williamson, Sean

AU - Alexander, Courtney E.

AU - Gonzalez-Pagan, Omar

AU - Kontak, Caitlin

AU - Mulkey, Steven E.

N1 - Funding Information: Acknowledgements We wish to express our sincere gratitude to the Cornell Association of Professors Emeriti for the partial support of our research through the Albert Podell Grant Program.

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N2 - Petroleum and natural gas are the primary fuels in the US food system. Both fuels are now in short supply and significant quantities are being imported into the USA from various nations. An investigation documented that fossil energy use in the food system could be reduced by about 50% by appropriate technology changes in food production, processing, packaging, transportation, and consumption. The results suggest that overall, farmers benefit as well as consumers.

AB - Petroleum and natural gas are the primary fuels in the US food system. Both fuels are now in short supply and significant quantities are being imported into the USA from various nations. An investigation documented that fossil energy use in the food system could be reduced by about 50% by appropriate technology changes in food production, processing, packaging, transportation, and consumption. The results suggest that overall, farmers benefit as well as consumers.

KW - Agriculture

KW - Energy conservation

KW - Food packaging

KW - Food system

KW - Food transport

KW - Land resources

KW - Nutrients

KW - USA

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ER -

Reducing energy inputs in the US food system

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

UN SDGs

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