Re: query: energy use in food system

Jeannie Leggett (jxl161@email.psu.edu)
Wed, 19 Apr 1995 10:58:28 -0400

Elvesier Science Publishing Co. has a series of books entitled Energy in
World Agriculture. Six books cover topics such as energy in farm
production, food processing, plant nutrition and pest control, among
others. They date from 1986 through 1992. I have not looked at these
books, but from their titles I can gather they will help you. Let me know
if you need more information.

At 10:48 AM 4/18/95, john hendrickson wrote:
>SANET'ers, here's another query for you all:
>
>I have been collecting information on energy use in the food
>system. Specifically, I am interested in the use of energy
>across the various sectors of the food system (i.e. production
>agriculture, food processing, transportation, wholesale/retail,
>and household). All of the data I have been able to find dates
>back to the 1970s. Does anyone know of any more recent studies
>(or even estimates)? The 1970s data suggests that the entire
>food system uses about 15% of the total U.S. energy budget and
>that by sector, energy use is approximately as follows:
>
> Food production 20%
> Food processing 30%
> Wholesale/retail 15%
> Transportation 5%
> Home preparation 30%
>
>How have these figures changed over time? How has total energy
>consumption in the food system changed over the past twenty
>years?
>
>Thanks for your help.
>
>John Hendrickson
>Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems
>University of Wisconsin-Madison
>(608) 265-3704
>jhendrik@macc.wisc.edu
>

Jeannie Leggett
246 Agricultural Engineering Building
The Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA 16802
Phone (814) 863-7710
FAX (814) 863-1031