The consumption of oil has increased at an unprecedented rate in the last two decades. This was accompanied by an equivalent increase in output by oil producing countries to meet the increase in demand. Oil as well as coal, are the two most used non-renewable energy resources regarding food production. The major issues with relying so heavily on non-renewable resources for food production is what happens when the resources are depleted. The decline in oil production will lead to international tension as major economies will compete for the scarce energy resource. As the amount of oil available continues to decrease, the cost of food will continue to rise.
Almost all processes in the modern food system are dependent upon oil. At a time when we should be making significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions into our atmosphere, "the food system is lengthening its supply chains and increasing emissions to the point where it is a significant contributor to global warming" (Church, 2005). According to the article "Why Our Food is so Dependent on Oil" vast amounts of oil and gas are used as raw materials and energy in the manufacturing of fertilizers and pesticides and through all stages of food production: from planting, irrigation, feeding and harvesting, processing, distribution and packaging. Fossil fuels are also essential in the construction and the repair of equipment and infrastructure needed to facilitate this industry. The industrial food supply system is one of the biggest consumers of fossil fuels and one of the greatest producers of carbon emissions (Church, 2005).
"Currently barriers to local food-market entry and expansion include: capacity constraints for small farms and lack of distribution systems for moving local food into mainstream markets; limited research, education, and training for marketing local food; and uncertainties related to regulations that may affect local food production, such as food safety requirements" (Martinez, 2010). It is integral that these current obstacles be overcome in order to move towards a more sustainable food production future.
"Over 400 gallons of oil are consumed each year to feed one person in North America." A third of that oil is used in the manufacturing of fertilizer; 20% to operate farm machinery, 16% for transportation, 13% for irrigation, 8% for raising livestock and 5% for pesticides. During the transportation process, refrigerated trucks and planes transport the foods long distances to distribution centers. (OpEd News, 2011)
The two graphs given below provide a visual correlation between cost of food and amount of oil imported and produced. As prices continue to rise for agricultural products as the amount of oil imported versus oil produced continues to rise. Statistics such as these only further provide evidence of our insecure food future and the need to descend from oil dependence.
Almost all processes in the modern food system are dependent upon oil. At a time when we should be making significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions into our atmosphere, "the food system is lengthening its supply chains and increasing emissions to the point where it is a significant contributor to global warming" (Church, 2005). According to the article "Why Our Food is so Dependent on Oil" vast amounts of oil and gas are used as raw materials and energy in the manufacturing of fertilizers and pesticides and through all stages of food production: from planting, irrigation, feeding and harvesting, processing, distribution and packaging. Fossil fuels are also essential in the construction and the repair of equipment and infrastructure needed to facilitate this industry. The industrial food supply system is one of the biggest consumers of fossil fuels and one of the greatest producers of carbon emissions (Church, 2005).
"Currently barriers to local food-market entry and expansion include: capacity constraints for small farms and lack of distribution systems for moving local food into mainstream markets; limited research, education, and training for marketing local food; and uncertainties related to regulations that may affect local food production, such as food safety requirements" (Martinez, 2010). It is integral that these current obstacles be overcome in order to move towards a more sustainable food production future.
"Over 400 gallons of oil are consumed each year to feed one person in North America." A third of that oil is used in the manufacturing of fertilizer; 20% to operate farm machinery, 16% for transportation, 13% for irrigation, 8% for raising livestock and 5% for pesticides. During the transportation process, refrigerated trucks and planes transport the foods long distances to distribution centers. (OpEd News, 2011)
The two graphs given below provide a visual correlation between cost of food and amount of oil imported and produced. As prices continue to rise for agricultural products as the amount of oil imported versus oil produced continues to rise. Statistics such as these only further provide evidence of our insecure food future and the need to descend from oil dependence.
Oil based agriculture has been the primary catalyst for the world's population explosion from 1 billion in the middle of the 19th century to 6.3 billion at the start of the 21st century. The increase in oil production caused an increase in food production, ultimately leading to the increase in population. As the population goes up, the demand for food does too and therefore the demand for oil.... a never-ending cycle. Our current "modern technology based agriculture produces both food, and seeds for next year’s food, on a just-in-time basis" (Church, 2005). We have very few adequate reserves of food available in case of need, a few days worth at best, before the idea of famine were to become reality.
One of the major barriers preventing a more sustainable agriculture is the government. The U.S. government continues to provide subsidies to agribusiness. In 2008, 3 government subsidies were paid out: $12..2 billion in direct subsidies with 62% to commercial farms, $5.2 billion in commodities with 76% to commercial farms, and $2.7 billion in conservation payments with 33% to commercial farms (OpEd News, 2011).
Bottom line: Our food supply is vulnerable, inefficient, and unsustainable and it needs to change.
One of the major barriers preventing a more sustainable agriculture is the government. The U.S. government continues to provide subsidies to agribusiness. In 2008, 3 government subsidies were paid out: $12..2 billion in direct subsidies with 62% to commercial farms, $5.2 billion in commodities with 76% to commercial farms, and $2.7 billion in conservation payments with 33% to commercial farms (OpEd News, 2011).
Bottom line: Our food supply is vulnerable, inefficient, and unsustainable and it needs to change.
Despite the dependence on oil and imported foods, Florida is actually one of the top in the nation for locally grown and caught food products which is covered in "The Vision".