ENERGY REQUIREMENTS FOR FOOD PRODUCTION

BY FREDRIC SCHWARTZ

      Food production burns more energy than it returns. One report suggests only one calorie of food energy is produced for every 10 calories of fossil fuel burned. The study is based on standard agriculture, which includes raising animals for food. Plant-based crops are considered to be 30% more efficient than the above-referenced standard agricultural model.
    Animal foods such as meat and milk take more land, water, and energy to produce because additional land and resources are used to raise crops to feed the animals. The numerous energy-intensive steps required to process, store, and distribute animal products are also labor (and therefore energy) intensive.
    The next time you are ready to take a bite into that thick juicy steak, remember the process required to get it to your plate. It is conscious decision making that defines us as human beings and separates us from the very animals many of us eat. If you have no plans to give up meat entirely, at least consider decreasing the amount you eat. It is through these choices that we will either positively or negatively affect generations to come, and it’s up to us collectively to choose the legacy we leave for our children and our children’s children.
Fredric Schwartz is the founder of Vayu Yoga Clothing, a grassroots apparel company dedicated to producing sustainable products designed to meet the lifestyle needs of today’s responsible consumer. Their highly functional yet aesthetically pleasing products, durably made from sustainable fabrics using hemp and organic cotton, are designed for use in the studio, park, or street.