The energy return on investment of global agriculture

The study, which integrates two existing models - one tracking energy consumption in agriculture and food processing and another mapping agricultural commodity flows - found that the energy return on investment for global agriculture increased from 0.68 in 1995 to 0.91 by 2019. However, the improvement appears to have stagnated since 2014, indicating a plateau in efficiency gains.

Despite these advancements, the EROI remains below one, meaning more energy is consumed to produce food than is gained in caloric output. This discrepancy largely reflects reliance on fossil fuels, particularly in food processing, which accounts for 40% of the global agrifood system's energy use.

Animal-based food production is a significant contributor to this energy imbalance, consuming 60% of the system's energy while delivering only 18% of the calories. The researchers highlight that regional disparities exist: more than two-thirds of the global population live in areas where EROI exceeds one. These regions include Western, Central, and Eastern Africa, as well as Eastern, Southern, and Southeastern Asia.

According to the authors, improving the energy efficiency of food production systems is essential for food security, particularly in regions facing unstable energy supplies. "Reducing the energy required to grow food helps communities ensure food security in the face of an unstable energy supply and helps reduce the environmental impacts of feeding humanity," the study notes.

The findings underscore the importance of sustainable energy strategies and system-wide changes to reduce dependence on energy-intensive processes, ensuring both food security and environmental benefits for the future.

Research Report:Energy input and food output: The energy imbalance across regional agrifood systems