Energy Security And Food

Question 1

How much oil does the average western person use per day

Answer 1

4.4 litres per day/ 66 barrels per year

Question 2

How many calories of fossil fuel are needed to produce 1 calorie of food?

Answer 2

10 calories of fossil fuel

Question 3

What are the four dilemmas of running out of oil?

Answer 3

• the direct impacts on agriculture ( tractor fuel, chemical costs, transport)
• indirect impacts of high oil prices (demand for biofuels/ food land being used for fuel production thus making food costly)
• impacts on climate change ( increased severe weather events causing damage)
• degradation of natural resources

Question 4

What is peak oil?

Answer 4

The idea that demand for oil will one day overtake supply of oil

Question 5

What are two problems with determining oil supply?

Answer 5

• Demand for oil is growing three times faster than supplies are being discovered
• estimates of reserves are often misleading

Question 6

What are some problems with biofuels

Answer 6

• costly to produce
• take up land that could be used for food production
• can worsen soils for future crops
• raises ethical questions as to whether the food could be used elsewhere

Question 7

What are the expected price hikes for crops of biofuel production doubles by 2020?

Answer 7

• corn: 26-72% higher
• oilseeds: 18-44% higher
• wheat: 8-20% higher
• sugar: 12-27% higher

Question 8

What some of the products algae farming could produce?

Answer 8

• oil for biodiesel
• carbohydrates for ethanol
• fertilisers
• feed for livestock
• omega 3 and fine chemicals

Question 9

What are some alternative on farm energy sources?

Answer 9

• methane biogas from effluent
• sun and wind power
• hydrogen fuel

Question 10

Advantages of using high energy and low input farming systems

Answer 10

• Creates resilience through diversity of crops
• has less of an environmental cost
• less dependence on rapidly decreasing resources
• large profit for little cost

Question 11

What is another production option for the agriculture industry? And how could it help?

Answer 11

Low input, low energy production

• organic farming uses 30-50% less energy than traditional agriculture
• smallholder local agriculture can grow more per acre of land
• ability to be downsized

Question 12

What did Richard heinberg say about the oil and energy crisis?

Answer 12

• we are already at peak oil
• we need a less oil reliant agriculture
• change takes time so we need to start now
• what we do now will affect future generations for better or for worse