Energy and Agriculture

Humans have found ways to secure their food from the Earth's land. Much of the world's agriculture was and still is carried out by hand. Although energy-intensive agricultural systems are highly productive, their sustainability is questionable because: Firstly rapid population growth, needs increased use of cropland and water resources; Secondly fossil energy resources that are essential for supplying fertilizers, pesticides, irrigation, and mechanization are non-renewable; and lastly the agricultural environment is being degraded by both soil erosion of cropland and pasture land and by the pollution of fresh water resources.

Agriculture is a major user of energy, with direct energy consumption and indirect energy use through production inputs, such as fertilizer, accounting 15 percent of total farm cash production expenses. In addition, agriculture has the potential to become an increasingly important source of renewable energy and provide significant economic opportunities for our farmers and ranchers.

Renewable energy production stimulates the agricultural and rural economy, improves the environment, and enhances national energy security.

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