Food and Energy Security

Source: The post Food and Energy Security has been created, based on the article “In energy-dependent world, the issue of food security” published in “The Hindu” on 10th December 2024

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper3- Economy-growth, development and employment

Context: The article examines the critical link between food and energy security in an energy-dependent world. Food and Energy Security, It highlights the intertwined crises of food insecurity and energy poverty, exacerbated by climate change, geopolitical tensions, and socio-economic inequalities, emphasizing the need for integrated solutions to address these global challenges.

Why are food and energy insecurities considered intertwined global crises?

1. Food and energy insecurities are deeply interconnected as agriculture, a critical system for humanity, relies heavily on energy and is both a consumer and contributor to climate change.
2. Addressing one issue without tackling the other undermines global stability, as both systems face challenges like climate change, population growth, geopolitical tensions, and reliance on outdated infrastructure.

How is agriculture dependent on carbon-intensive energy, and what are the impacts?

1. Agriculture uses nearly 70% of global freshwater and contributes over 20% of greenhouse gas emissions.
2. Its reliance on fossil fuels for irrigation, mechanization, fertilizer production, and transportation creates environmental degradation and vulnerability to energy price shocks.
3. Rising temperatures and erratic weather patterns further disrupt agricultural productivity, endangering the livelihoods of 2.5 billion people.

How does energy price volatility affect agriculture?

1. Energy price fluctuations directly increase fertilizer costs, leading to higher food prices. For example, natural gas, vital for ammonia synthesis in fertilizers, significantly impacts agricultural costs.
2. Geopolitical actions like China’s phosphate fertilizer export ban in 2021 disrupted supply chains, delaying critical cropping seasons in countries like India.

How does energy poverty exacerbate global inequities?

1. Low-income countries, which account for a small share of global energy demand, are disproportionately affected by supply disruptions.
2. In sub-Saharan Africa, low fertilizer usage and unreliable power grids hinder agricultural productivity, increasing food insecurity.
3. For instance, African countries spent $1.9 billion on fertilizer imports in 2021, more than double the amount in 2016.

How do extreme weather events impact energy and food systems?

1. Extreme weather events disrupt energy and food systems by damaging energy infrastructure and reducing agricultural productivity, leading to higher food prices, especially in rural areas.
2. Renewable energy, such as solar-powered irrigation and biomass energy, can transform agriculture by enhancing efficiency and sustainability, but its adoption is hindered by high costs and inadequate infrastructure, particularly in low-income nations.

What are the financial implications of addressing food and energy insecurity?

1. Ensuring basic caloric needs for vulnerable populations requires $90 billion annually until 2030. Tackling malnutrition needs an additional $11 billion per year.
2. Transforming global food systems could cost $300–$400 billion annually, amounting to 0.5% of global GDP.
3. For low-income nations, these costs often exceed 95% of GDP.

What are the risks of failing to address these twin crises?

1. Inaction could lead to trillions in global economic losses from reduced productivity and adverse health outcomes.
2. Climate-induced energy disruptions may destabilize regions, driving social unrest and mass migration.
3. For example, Africa’s mineral wealth, essential for renewable technologies, is often exploited without benefiting local economies.

Why is inclusivity crucial in addressing these crises?

1. Despite record investments in renewables, ongoing fossil fuel expansion and structural barriers to clean energy access risk excluding vulnerable communities. Solutions must ensure equitable benefits for all.
2. Agriculture must be reimagined as both a provider of sustenance and a cornerstone of sustainable development.
3. Collaborative and inclusive action is essential to prevent hunger and achieve global climate goals.