Energy consumption in the food supply system

Historically, productivity gains have been possible by the application of energy intensive technologies. In the future, new technologies and practices based
on energy from renewable resources are central for the development of our food supply system and they will contribute in two different ways. As the energy
sector increasingly bases energy supply on renewable sources, the energy requirements of the food sector will automatically substitute renewable energy for non-renewable energy in all stages of food supply. In principle, the food sector does not need to change if renewable energy is sufficient and available as the energy carriers that we are used to today. We may think of this as passive adaptation. A passive adaptation strategy may support a development towards
the image ‘high input – high output’. The food sector, however, may also actively adapt to a future without fossil fuels and change production methods, distribution systems etc. to depend on fewer external energy inputs and make better use of the energy and other resources provided by natural processes. Active adaptation may be a characteristic component of a strategy for the image ‘medium input – medium output.’ We expect that the increasing world population and the increasing demand for resource intensive food and life style will require a strategy for the future food supply system centred on energy reduction.