Estimating energy consumption and GHG emissions in the U.S. food supply chain for net-zero
Abstract This work provides a database of the U.S. food system’s energy consumption and GHG emissions at the national and state levels by food supply chain (FSC) stage, fuel type, and food commodity. We estimate that the U.S. FSC consumed a total 4660 TBTU (4900 PJ) of site energy, 7130 TBTU (7500 P...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-02-01
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| Series: | npj Science of Food |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41538-024-00346-y |
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| author | Kristina Armstrong Wenquan Dong Mingzhou Jin Sachin Nimbalkar Joe Cresko |
| author_facet | Kristina Armstrong Wenquan Dong Mingzhou Jin Sachin Nimbalkar Joe Cresko |
| author_sort | Kristina Armstrong |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract This work provides a database of the U.S. food system’s energy consumption and GHG emissions at the national and state levels by food supply chain (FSC) stage, fuel type, and food commodity. We estimate that the U.S. FSC consumed a total 4660 TBTU (4900 PJ) of site energy, 7130 TBTU (7500 PJ) of primary energy, and generated 970 MMT of GHG emissions in 2016. Among all the stages, on-farm production is the largest energy consumer (31% primary energy) and GHG emissions contributor (70%), largely due to raising animals. Optimizing distribution can reduce the stage’s energy consumption and GHG emissions and increase products’ shelf-life. Reducing food loss and waste is another good option, as it decreases the amount of food necessary to grow, thus impacting the overall FSC. The database can help stakeholders identify stage- and region-specific strategies and measures to curtail the environmental footprint of the U.S. food system. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b99930e3f38144c4b2be57d1dc26004e |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2396-8370 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | npj Science of Food |
| spelling | doaj-art-b99930e3f38144c4b2be57d1dc26004e2025-02-09T12:56:08ZengNature Portfolionpj Science of Food2396-83702025-02-019111610.1038/s41538-024-00346-yEstimating energy consumption and GHG emissions in the U.S. food supply chain for net-zeroKristina Armstrong0Wenquan Dong1Mingzhou Jin2Sachin Nimbalkar3Joe Cresko4Manufacturing Energy Efficiency Research & Analysis, Oak Ridge National LaboratoryIngram School of Engineering, Texas State UniversityDepartment of Industrial and Systems Engineering, The Institute for a Secure and Sustainable Environment, The University of TennesseeManufacturing Energy Efficiency Research & Analysis, Oak Ridge National LaboratoryIndustrial Efficiency and Decarbonization Office, U.S. Department of EnergyAbstract This work provides a database of the U.S. food system’s energy consumption and GHG emissions at the national and state levels by food supply chain (FSC) stage, fuel type, and food commodity. We estimate that the U.S. FSC consumed a total 4660 TBTU (4900 PJ) of site energy, 7130 TBTU (7500 PJ) of primary energy, and generated 970 MMT of GHG emissions in 2016. Among all the stages, on-farm production is the largest energy consumer (31% primary energy) and GHG emissions contributor (70%), largely due to raising animals. Optimizing distribution can reduce the stage’s energy consumption and GHG emissions and increase products’ shelf-life. Reducing food loss and waste is another good option, as it decreases the amount of food necessary to grow, thus impacting the overall FSC. The database can help stakeholders identify stage- and region-specific strategies and measures to curtail the environmental footprint of the U.S. food system.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41538-024-00346-y |
| spellingShingle | Kristina Armstrong Wenquan Dong Mingzhou Jin Sachin Nimbalkar Joe Cresko Estimating energy consumption and GHG emissions in the U.S. food supply chain for net-zero npj Science of Food |
| title | Estimating energy consumption and GHG emissions in the U.S. food supply chain for net-zero |
| title_full | Estimating energy consumption and GHG emissions in the U.S. food supply chain for net-zero |
| title_fullStr | Estimating energy consumption and GHG emissions in the U.S. food supply chain for net-zero |
| title_full_unstemmed | Estimating energy consumption and GHG emissions in the U.S. food supply chain for net-zero |
| title_short | Estimating energy consumption and GHG emissions in the U.S. food supply chain for net-zero |
| title_sort | estimating energy consumption and ghg emissions in the u s food supply chain for net zero |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41538-024-00346-y |
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