Key Issues and Information Resources

Sustainable
Agri-Food Production
and Consumption
Forum

	Introduction
	Agri-food Production and Bio-diversity
	Water Use and Water Pollution
	Energy
	Climate Change
	Food Safety and Biotechnology
	Use of Chemicals
	Desertification
	Trade and Environment
	Consumption
	Make a link to your web site

KEY ISSUES AND INFORMATION SOURCES -
Energy

Although energy input for food production is relatively low compared to other industrial sectors, substantial amounts of energy are consumed throughout food production and preparation. The food sector now consumes about 10-15% of total energy in industrialised countries, though only 2-5% of total energy use (20-33% of food sector use) occurs on farms.

Meat production requires a great deal more energy (and water) per kilogram than crop production. The trend towards increased meat production and consumption world-wide is likely to lead to considerably greater demand for energy if current practices and trends continue with associated implications of increased use of fossil fuel and possible climate effects. Transport activities related to agri-food production have widespread and serious environmental impacts mainly due to air pollution from fossil fuels. The increasing volume of global agricultural production and trade also has impacts on land use, including increased demand for roadways, distribution centres, port facilities and other related infrastructure.

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Information resources provided by various stakeholders:

THE UNITED NATIONS ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR EUROPE (UNECE)

UNECE is one of five regional commissions of the United Nations. Its primary goal is to encourage greater economic cooperation among its member States. It focuses on economic analysis, environment and human settlements, statistics, sustainable energy, trade, industry and enterprise development, timber and transport. A Part of UNECE is particularly interesting: Industrial Restructuring, Energy and Enterprise Development Division (IREEDD). The part of sustainable Energy has got a sub-programme to promote a sustainable energy development strategy for the region, with many objectives.

Organisation web site: http://www.unece.org.

Specific pages of interest:

http://www.unece.org/ie - Industrial Restructuring, Energy and Enterprise Development Division (IREEDD).

The FAO’s ENERGY FOR DEVELOPMENT section

a part of the Sustainable Development Department, aims at being a global reference centre for knowledge and advice on biophysical, biological, socio-economic and social dimensions of sustainable development.

Organisation web site: http://www.fao.org/sd/index_en.htm.

Specific pages of interest:

http://www.fao.org/sd/2001/EN0601_en.htm - Article on renewable energy for sustainable agriculture and rural development in Honduras

THE INTERNATIONAL ENERGY AGENCY

is the energy forum for the 25 Member countries committed to taking joint measures to meet oil supply emergencies, to share energy information, to co-ordinate their energy policies and to co-operate in the development of rational energy programs. In its site you can find more information on the IEA programs to assist its members in technology policy development and to facilitate collaborative projects on energy research, development and demonstration.

Organisation web site: http://www.iea.org/.

ELSEVIER SCIENCES

Elsevier Science has become the undisputed market leader in the publication and dissemination of literature covering the broad spectrum of scientific endeavors. In this address, you can find books on energy use in agriculture.

Organisation web site: http://www.elsevier.com/inca/tree/?key=B1EWA.

"BEYOND OIL"

The book published by the Univ. Press Colorado, offers a methodological approach to looking at the effects of an oil shortage including its economic and food repercussions. In this address you can read the prologue to the book.

Organisation web site: http://www.dieoff.org/page154.htm.

THE SCANA CORPORATION

provides services and information on energy technologies.

Organisation web site: http://www.sceg.com/default.htm.

US DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

US Department of Energy provides information to hundreds of Web sites and thousands of online documents on Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. The EERE’s mission is to strengthen America's energy security, environmental quality, and economic vitality in public-private partnerships that: enhance energy efficiency and productivity, bring clean, reliable and affordable energy technologies to the marketplace. This web site provide information on Energy efficiency: buildings, industry, power, transportation. It also speacks about Renewable Energy: bioenergy, geothemal, solar, wind. The web page on bioenergy is particularly interesting.

Organisation web site: http://www.eere.energy.gov/.